Although the waste industry continued to function throughout the pandemic ensuring public health and hygiene was maintained, this was at a significantly reduced capacity due to reduced local authority recycling services and commercial waste customers.
However, as scientific and government advice allows, and we begin to move through Phase II towards a sustainable recovery, the economy is starting to safely get moving again. As a result, waste streams are returning with Local Authority (LA) services and collections back to normal and the construction industry being given permission to resume their services again.
To cope with the increased demand and customer requirements, a significant amount of hard work has been carried out across all Barr Environmental Limited sites over the past few weeks to ensure that we are fully prepared to return to full capacity, whilst ensuring the safety of all staff, customers, contractors and members of the public working on and accessing our sites.
We are therefore pleased to welcome all employees back from furlough, except those who are shielding. All returning staff have been re-inducted to onsite operations, with the addition of new COVID-19 rules and ways of working.
Documentation and procedures in place prior to the pandemic have been adapted to incorporate COVID-19 procedures and practices, with staff being informed of any changes. Staff have also been kept up-to-date about relevant issues through the delivery of a variety of toolbox talks, and informed of ways that they can help minimise any potential spread of coronavirus within the workplace by carrying out good practices, such as, taking staggered breaks and adopting rigorous cleaning regimes.
All Barr offices and sites have been kitted out with additional COVID-19 safety signage; including social distancing and hygiene principle reminders, thereby ensuring all site users are aware of, and abide by, the new precautions, and additional hand sanitiser units have been installed in key areas.
With all of these good practices and precautions in place and continually maintained and updated, following Government and WISH guidance, we are delighted to welcome the public and all of our staff, customers, suppliers and contractors back to all Barr sites, in the knowledge that their safety and wellbeing is of paramount importance at all times. We would also like to thank them all for their continued support during these uncertain times.
Our recycling, commercial and household waste, civic amenity sites and skip hire services are back at full capacity. More details of the services we offer and how we can help you with your waste can be seen here.