COVID-19: waste disposal for apartment living

COVID-19: waste disposal for apartment living

Scientists have determined that the coronavirus can remain on surfaces such as plastic, cardboard, and steel for some time*.

We recommend taking extra precautionary measures with waste disposal to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in your apartment.

Here are 6 important things to consider when it comes to waste disposal for apartment living: 

1. Minimising risks of transmission through waste disposal in your apartment
2. Frequent cleaning of garbage areas
3. Garbage and recycling collection
4. Waste disposal for strata residents in self-isolation
5. Practice social distancing in your strata
6. After handling waste or using common area waste rooms

Minimising risks of transmission through waste disposal in your apartment

When disposing of waste, dispose of it considerately. Ensure children, pets and pests cannot access waste and do not leave rubbish unsupervised on the ground.

If you have COVID-19 or are in self-isolation from having returned from overseas, it is recommended that you not dispose of your waste until you have been cleared. If this is not possible, any waste from self-isolating residents in strata should be double-bagged, and the exterior surface should be wiped before handling.

Frequent cleaning of garbage areas

Instructions should be provided to your strata cleaning company to clean and disinfect garbage areas more frequently. These include door handles to waste rooms, bin handles, and garbage chutes. Ask your cleaning company for their COVID-19 cleaning plan and what additional measures they have put in place.

Garbage and recycling collection

In line with the Australian and state governments, local councils will continue to deliver essential services for the community including waste collection and recycling. At the time of writing this article, no waste collections in NSW, QLD, or VIC have been affected. Canberra’s waste and recycling collections have a slight variance in times to allow for spilt shifts to prevent driver shortages as a result of COVID-19.

Waste disposal for strata residents in self-isolation

It’s recommended that all waste that has been in contact with any self-isolated individual should be double-bagged and tied to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The waste should not be disposed of or put out for collection until it is confirmed that the potential patient does not have COVID-19.

Practice social distancing in your strata

Keep a minimum of 1.5 metres between yourself and others in all common areas.

If you have flu-like symptoms and have recently been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or have recently returned from overseas, avoid all common areas.

After handling waste or using common area waste rooms

Wash your hands for more than 20 seconds as soon as you finish disposing of waste or using common property garbage rooms or areas. This is your best defence in preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

Community living requires residents to be more conscious of others around them. Be considerate of others when disposing of your waste, practice social distancing rules, and wash your hands immediately after.

If you’d like to find out more on managing health & safety for our property, find out more about our Community Health & Safety services by clicking here. Our team is ready to assist you 24/7.

* Study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Note: we are not in the position to provide health advice and urge you to keep up-to-date with guidance provided by the Australian Government.