Conclusion Certainly not all of the above-referenced impacts occurred throughout the country or to the same degree, but the pandemic clearly had an impact on the solid waste industry. Updated and timely refresher training courses will be critical to maintaining a strong post-COVID solid waste management industry. RCAP, through its regional training programs, is well-positioned to serve as a leader in this effort. Food had previously been identified as the No. 1 item Americans throw away, with up to 40% of the food supply in the U.S. each year never consumed. Interim data shows that, since many residents have been at home during COVID-19, more attention has been paid to reducing the amount of food wasted. This behavior change needs to be reinforced in the future, post-pandemic. Local attendants reported a large increase in electronics recycling, especially televisions. Since more people were staying home, new televisions were being purchased for entertainment. Solid Waste Disposal A majority of solid waste disposal facilities reported a surge of varying degrees in residential disposal rates. Higher levels of consumption of packaged products and take-out foods were reported due to people staying at home and/or working remotely. Additionally, many individuals took this opportunity to declutter their homes—to clean out, remove junk, and dispose of stored items. Several local drop-off facilities indicated that they had been overrun with bulk items during the pandemic. Some local governments reported an increase in traffic at drop-off facilities that produced other problems to manage, such as traffic flow, increased container size or quantity requirements, increased safety for residents, and more. Disposal facilities have had to maximize the use of existing facilities to manage the increased waste production. This has resulted in altering facility disposal patterns, rerouting traffic into and out of the disposal areas, and reassigning personnel. Personnel at local drop-off facilities also reported an increase in the disposal of residential land clearing debris—brush, trees, leaves, etc.—during COVID-19. This certainly resulted from residents being at home more and working outside to clean up their property. Recycling In some instances, recycling is being sent directly to a landfill or minimal sorting is occurring. Recycling is a very hands- on process, and the logistics of handling and sorting mixed recycling material could be considered unsafe during the pandemic. Many drop-off facilities reported significant increases in cardboard collection and recycling, probably as a result of the e-commerce industry and increased demand for package delivery. Solid Waste Management In March 2020, solid waste management, collection, and disposal workers were designated as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. Waste haulers were also exempted from Hours of Service (HOS) regulations during COVID-19. Recycling activities were designated as an essential part of the supply chain for critical manufacturers. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries reports, “recycling provides 40% of raw materials for manufacturers on average across all commodities.” While these designations were good for industry finances, they put additional pressures on the operation and management of waste facilities. OSHA re-issued guidance that stated: Generally, management of waste that is suspected or known to contain or be contaminated with COVID-19 does not require special precautions beyond those already used to protect workers from the hazards they encounter during their routine job tasks in solid waste management. Solid waste workers and employers should manage municipal (e.g., household, business) solid waste with potential or known COVID-19 contamination like any other non-contaminated municipal waste. Use typical engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE, such as puncture-resistant gloves and face and eye protection, to prevent worker exposure to the waste streams (or types of wastes), including any contaminants in the materials, they manage. Even though the precautions in place during the pandemic were similar to those before the pandemic, the fact of working in a pandemic placed additional pressures and concerns on the front-line workers. In addition to worker safety, a primary impact during COVID-19 seemed to be that waste production shifted from industry and commercial centers to residential areas. This resulted in a re-focusing of collection efforts and the management of drop- off facilities.
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