Bins Collected as Usual Throughout Newry, Mourne and Down

Refuse staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council are continuing to provide a refuse collection service throughout the entire district.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey commends refuse workers as they continue to keep this service going under difficult circumstances.  Councillor Charlie Casey said, “As the Coronavirus crisis unfolded, we were quick to implement a number of health and safety measures to protect our staff.  These measures allowed the collection teams to continue the service with minimal disruptions to our residents. Crews now operate staggered start times between 6.30am and 8am and are authorised to leave work immediately upon the completion of work.

“To support social distancing, crews are restricted to one driver and one loader in each cab. For crews that operate as one driver and two loaders, the loaders are transported behind the collection lorry in a support vehicle. Loaders are also asked to limit their time in cabs to an absolute minimum and can be collected and dropped-off at designated points along some routes.”

Councillor Casey continued, “All bin collections continue to be collected on your normal day and if you are unsure which day to leave your bins out, please go to www.newrymournedown.org/weekly-bin-collections and enter your postcode for an updated collection schedule. We are asking our residents to help us by carrying out the following steps:

• Present bins for collection no later than 6am every morning, or alternatively the night before.
• Where possible, do not restrict bin lorry access. Please park as considerately as possible.
• Ensure that all bin handles are cleaned or wiped-down before and after use.
• Do not approach our staff without following the minimum two-metre social distancing guidance.

“We are constantly reviewing our services in light of rapidly changing events and may make further changes at very short notice. The situation remains challenging and is dependent on the ongoing impact of Covid19 on our own employees.

“We would like to thank all our frontline workers who continue to engage with our residents to deliver essential services. I fully appreciate the disruption this has had on normal working routines, however as a workforce and a wider-society we are now having to make significant changes to our daily lives. I would also like to thank the public for their support and patience during very difficult circumstances. With our Household Recycling Centres now closed to free up resources needed to maintain domestic refuse collection services and help ensure compliance with social distancing guidance, we are appealing to people not to flytip and to do their bit to keep the district clean and safe.

“Please monitor the Council’s social media channels to be kept informed of updates. Alternatively, you can also email us at recycling@nmandd.org.”