Back to work: what you need to know about keeping a clean and safe workplace

The simple answer here is no. Collections will happen as normal. Westminster City Council and Transport for London (TFL) have taken measures to help keep visitors, residents and workers safe on our streets. We have published our plans to provide new and additional space for cyclists and pedestrians in the heart of the capital to safely support the easing of the lockdown and get the economy moving again.

The council has been working to develop these important temporary proposals in conjunction with local groups and businesses. This will include the installation of 20 low-cost, temporary measures across all areas of the city.

The move will temporarily widen pavements, pedestrian areas and cycle lanes in some of our city’s most iconic locations. Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly now have measures to widen pavements, change traffic lanes into pedestrian walkways as well as provide guidance on social distancing and pop-up cycle lanes. All areas of Westminster will enable people to move safely around the city as the lockdown restrictions are lifted.

To ensure we continue to provide an excellent collection service in a manner which does not cause issues in the streets that are closed to traffic, we will be using special electric micro-sized vehicles to collect waste from businesses and residents. 

These vehicles can operate safely in closed-off streets and ensure businesses and residents can use our collection services the same way as always. These small electric vehicles will collect waste and recycling bags from your business’ doorstep and take it to the larger trucks which will then travel to our waste treatment facilities.

We will operate this new method of collection in the following streets and areas:

• Oxford Street
• Regent Street
• Piccadilly
• St James’s
• Mayfair
• Soho 
• Covent Garden

For more on street closure schedules as part of the Movement Strategy please read our guide on ‘Reopening Westminster’ and the guidance on all street related issues.

Keeping Westminster’s streets safe, clean and free of rubbish is one of our key objectives. Clean streets are essential in providing a welcoming place in which businesses thrive. So how should you present your waste and recycling bags for collection in these closes-off streets?

• Businesses are encouraged to reduce the need for waste and recycling collections in the first place. For advice on waste reduction please download these tips.
• Present your waste bags at the right time, 30 minutes prior to the start of the collection time. See here for your street’s designated collection time
• If your street is closed as part of the Movement Strategy please, whenever possible, use the other collection timebands outside of 11:00-23:00. Most streets have two or three everyday
• Request suppliers take items such as pallets, kegs, shrink wrap, empty boxes and crates back when they deliver supplies avoiding the need to present them for the waste or recycling collection
• Where possible, change the times when cleaners or contractors operate in your building, avoiding the need for them to present waste in the 11:00-23:00 closure period
• Switch from using single-use plastic waste and recycling bags to wheelie bin collections. Bins should be stored in a suitable in-door storage space, not on the street. These bins can be collected outside the 11:00-23:00 closure period
• Avoid presenting waste and recycling bags where it can cause obstruction. Waste should not be thrown onto big mixed piles. Please keep different coloured waste bags (red, blue etc) separate from each other. Place your rubbish bags outside your own premises as close to the building as possible. This prevents pavements from being obstructed
• Please only use the official Commercial Waste Services marked waste or recycling bags. Unmarked waste bags, such as ordinary black bags, will be enforced against as fly tipping
• Place each waste type in the correct bag. Put your recycling in the blue bags and general waste in the red bags. Make sure to properly sort your recycling and do not put any hazardous waste, batteries, sharp items or electrical appliances in the bags
• Do not exceed the weight limit indicated on the bag
• Ensure your bags are closed tightly and do not have any rips or leaks as this will stain and dirty the street
• See here for more on presenting your waste bags for collection.

If you need help with segregating your waste properly and want to know what waste goes where and in which bag, click on the button below and have a read through this simple guide.

Disposing of PPE waste from your business is straightforward and easy, this includes items such as gloves, masks, wipes and cleaning cloths. Any PPE that has not been in contact with an infection source can be disposed of as general waste and does not need to be double-bagged. This is then sent to the SELCHP energy recovery facility for safe destruction. It is critical to note that these items are not suitable for recycling and when dealing with PPE waste, it is important to refer to official Public Health England advice and DEFRA guidance.

In a situation where PPE has been in contact with an infectious source, there are specific guidelines to follow:

• Put the PPE in a plastic waste bag and tie when full
• The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied
• It should then be stored in a safe and secure place for 72 hours before being disposed of as general waste
• PPE should be stored safely and away from children
• Do not put PPE waste in communal areas or on the street for collection

To see how we manage different types of waste and recycling and where they are sent for treatment after collection, click on the button below to view an interactive map.
View the interactive map