Health impact of bin collection frequency assessed

Health risks to handlers of waste collected less frequently than every two weeks can be reduced by bagging residual waste and also collecting biodegradable waste separately, according to a Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) report.

However, the study still found little difference between weekly and fortnightly waste collections with regards to the human health risk from the likes of odours, bacteria, maggots and flies.

Based on a laboratory study of waste bins undertaken by ZWS, the report considers the potential exposure of householders and waste collectors to health risks where residual waste is collected at extended frequencies meaning less often than every two weeks.

ZWS was approached by the Scottish Waste Management Officers Network to undertake the study due to the trend of increased recycling provision and the continuing move towards collecting waste on a fortnightly or less frequent basis.

Entitled The potential health impacts of extending the frequency of non-recyclable waste collections, the document states that by the end of 2015, 88% of Scottish local authorities primary waste collection frequency will be fortnightly.

According to the report published this week (July 10): The priority for local authorities planning extended frequency collections should be to try to prevent exposure at source by reducing concentrations of microorganisms and gases.

After testing the decomposition of waste over eight weeks in both warm and cool conditions, the study found that older waste due to missed collections, for example may lead to increased endotoxin concentrations. Endotoxin is linked to acute inflammation of the lungs and airways.

Endotoxin was particularly prevalent when waste was kept loose in the bin rather than in bags, while testing showed that flies, maggots and mites became apparent in warm bins by week four.

Prominence of bacteria in general was found to be significantly higher in bins after four weeks than after two weeks, and also higher in waste loosely placed in bins without a bag, according to the report.

The study also found that warmer temperatures increased the speed of decomposition, leading to stronger odours and gases from older waste.

However, while salmonella can be a hand-to-mouth issue for handlers of waste regardless of collection frequency it is not thought to be a respiratory health issue, the study found.

Recommendations

As a result, the ZWS report recommends that biodegradable waste such as nappies and food waste is collected by councils separately and frequently in order to reduce the health risks from bacteria, gas and odours to householders and waste collectors.

To this end, it is also suggested that councils promote good practice for storage of waste by encouraging householders to place waste in bags rather than placing it loose in the bin.

The report adds that residents may wish to wash their wheelie bins to avoid build-up of residues and the potential for odour.

Other recommendations to mitigate health risks include: environmental monitoring and odour control; promoting good hygiene practices; health screening to identify staff with respiratory issues; undertaking risk assessments, and; developing policies for missed collections to limit collection delays.

Trend

ZWS notes in the report that by 2009 a large proportion of local authorities across the UK had already, or were considering, a change from weekly to fortnightly non-recyclable waste collections, but that in some areas this change was met by public concern related to health risks.

However, a 2009 WRAP study found no documented evidence of the link between frequency of waste collection and any health impacts on householders or waste collectors, although it did find the collection frequency had an impact on incidence of maggots and flies.

In 2012/13, WRAP and ZWS carried out a survey which found that 68% of councils in the UK collected waste on a fortnightly basis, compared to 31% that did so every week. A further 1% collected waste more often than weekly.

Falkirk council has implemented a trial three-weekly waste collection service for 18,000 properties (see letsrecycle.com story), and the report notes that councils are starting to consider reducing waste collections in order to support high levels of recycling.

Yesterday (July 10), it was revealed that Bury councillors are considering changes that would see it become the first local authority in England to collect residual waste once every three weeks (see letsrecycle.com story).