Sen. Ed Markey supports PPE for solid waste workers

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, has thanked Sen. Ed Markey for his letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House Coronavirus Task Force in support of personal protective equipment (PPE) for solid waste workers and others on the front line.

“We thank Senator Markey for his hard work and support to ensure waste collection workers and all those who provide essential services have the equipment to work safely,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith. “We agree that these frontline workers should not risk their lives providing an essential service.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated the solid waste industry as part of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce. NWRA has also written to FEMA requesting the agency prioritize the waste collection industry with vendors. The association says it will continue to engage with all appropriate authorities to ensure that waste collection workers have the resources they need to do their jobs safely.