NWRA Calls Upon the D.C. Council to Extend the City’s Protections for Waste and Recycling Workers to the Private Sector

NWRA Calls Upon the DC Council to Extend the City’s Protections for Waste and Recycling Workers to the Private Sector

Arlington, VA – The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) commends the Washington, D.C., Department of Public Works (DPW) on its move to begin waste and recycling collections at 6 a.m. ET as a means to combat the summer heat and poor air quality. This move to an earlier time will last through September 1. NWRA calls on the Council of the District of Columbia (D.C. Council) to protect all waste and recycling workers by granting an emergency waiver to the private sector, allowing them to start at the same time as DPW.

“Heat is a very serious health hazard for outdoor workers, and the D.C. Council needs to take swift and decisive action to protect all waste and recycling workers, not just those employed by the city, from it,” stated NWRA Interim President and CEO Jim Riley.

Adjusting collection times is an easy way for waste and recycling companies to protect their workers from extreme heat and dangerous air quality conditions. NWRA urges the D.C. Council to extend this protection afforded by DPW to its employees to private sector waste and recycling workers as well.

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ABOUT NWRA
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage waste, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors, and various other service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit www.wasterecycling.org.

CONTACT
Brandon Wright
National Waste & Recycling Association
bwright@wasterecycling.org
202-364-3706