pedal people covid-19 update

(originally sent March 22, 2020)

PEDAL PEOPLE COVID-19 UPDATE

**** 3/22/20 ****

Hello Dear Customers,

After a tumultuous but successful first week of hauling in the age of
COVID-19, we have some updates, reminders, and requests for our
health, safety, and sustainability.  Thank you for your understanding
and flexibility during this unprecedented time in Pedal People
history!

UPDATES:  With so may people at home, the overall amount of trash we
haul on a daily basis has risen significantly.  We will continue to
take your contracted amount of trash, but we will most likely not be
able to fit extra trash above that amount with our regular loads.  We
are also not scheduling significantly large special pick ups (such as
clean outs from closets, garages, etc.) to prioritize regular service.
We are working extra hard and anticipate needing to cover one
another's runs (which we have already started doing).  Over-stretched
riders are at risk of injury so we are doing our best to work together
with you proactively to successfully continue service. Any added
mindfulness about trash production at this time is greatly
appreciated! 

IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDERS:

RECYCLING: We WILL leave behind any recycling that is not properly
sorted, particularly if we see it contains the following: black
plastic, plastic cups (Starbucks or Dunkin cups for example), and any
kind of plastic bag or similar flimsy plastic material. Paper
recycling should not include any used tissues, etc. It is not safe for
us to personally handle your recycling items. If we leave your
recycling behind, you may reschedule a pick up (for the $5
rescheduling fee) after your recycling has been sorted.
At this time, when in doubt, throw it out, or consult CAREFULLY the
following guidelines:
https://www.pedalpeople.coop/docs/pp_full_info_sheets.pdf

When recycling isn't properly sorted or cleaned, it may lead to an
entire batch of recycling at the plant being tossed into the trash,
which is why it is so important to sort it.  You are welcome to
contact us with any questions!

TRASH: Close all garbage bags. Please do not leave them out without
closing them first. If your bag is too full to close, please use an
additional bag. Please make sure trash is in plastic bags, not paper
or other materials that can easily break open. Also, be cautious when
disposing of items that could puncture trash bags, like broken glass.
These items could be wrapped in a paper bag before being disposed of. 
As usual, we ask that you have bags out by 8 am, or consider setting
them out the night before.  Please understand for safety reasons
around the virus we cannot take last minute trash items personally
from you if you are home and happen to see we are outside.

DISINFECT: We are doing our best to prevent the spread of the virus.
We touch every bin and trash can on our route.  Please be mindful to
disinfect these items you touch and we touch to minimize spread of the
virus. Leaving them isolated outside for several days before filling
them again is one way to naturally kill the virus after your pick up.


INFORM US!: If you are experiencing any symptoms, especially COVID-19
symptoms, let your hauler know so we can take extra care with your
trash. Consider bagging and trashing food instead of composting it if
it has saliva on it.

Thank you for reading and following these guidelines. Please reach out
to us with any questions or concerns. We are in this together!

-Pedal People


**** 3/15/20 ****

Dear customers,

Thank you for being with us in these difficult times.  We will be
continuing recycling, trash and compost service on a regular
schedule.

Please remember that unlike other haulers, Pedal People have to
interact more directly with the items you leave out. To help keep
everyone safe, please remember the following things:

* Close all garbage bags. Please do not leave them out without closing
them first. If your bag is too full to close, please use an additional
bag. Please make sure trash is in plastic bags, not paper or other
materials that can easily break open. Also, be cautious when disposing
of items that could puncture trash bags, like broken glass. These
items could be wrapped in a paper bag before being disposed of.

* Place anything that has a potential concentration of the virus
securely in your closed trash bags, such as used tissues, paper
towels, etc., so we don't have to touch these items at all.

* Review our recycling guidelines: 

https://www.pedalpeople.coop/docs/pp_full_info_sheets.pdf  

Anything that is not listed as recyclable, please put it in the trash.
If you don't, someone else down the line will need to pick it out by
hand. Often this is your Pedal People hauler, but if we don't do it,
the people at the transfer station will have to, or the workers at the
Springfield sorting facility. Please don't 'wishcycle,' leaving things
out that you hope can be recycled but are not on our guidelines. That
only increases the work others have to do, and increases the chances
of spreading contagions. Common things people put in recycling that
should go in the trash include black plastic, plastic cups, and any
kind of plastic bag or similar flimsy plastic material. We will be
less likely to take improperly sorted materials in the coming weeks.

* We will do our best to prevent the spread of the virus, but we will
at minimum have to touch everyone's bins on a route. You may want to
consider disinfecting your bins, or leaving them isolated outside for
several days before filling them again.

* If you are experiencing any symptoms, especially COVID-19 symptoms,
let us know so we can take extra care with your trash. If your food
waste has saliva on it, consider bagging and trashing it instead of
composting.

Thank you for reading and following these guidelines. Please reach out
to us with any questions or concerns.

-Pedal People

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