The City of Ashland, KY’s sanitation department of 18, including the supervisor, has worked extra hard to meet demand for at least the last month, Michelle Grubb, public information officer for the city, said. “We have noticed an increase in the garbage they’re picking up, probably due to people being home more and doing some deep cleaning,” Grubb said.
Exposure to trash puts them at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, so workers are taking more precautions, Grubb said. “Along with wearing normal PPE, which includes puncture-proof gloves and goggles, they have another layer under the gloves, plus masks and they are practicing social distancing,” she said. “There are three people to a truck. Now, they’re two people to a truck and that extra person is running a shuttle.” A shuttle is an additional, smaller truck to carry extra trash.
Grubb said the department has had no COVID-19 positive test results for any sanitation employees and the city has been in contact with local health officials from the Ashland-Boyd County Health Department, King’s Daughters Medical Center and the Office of Emergency Management to keep up to date on procedures.
“It’s a lot of work, but I feel like this area has done an outstanding job,” she said of efforts to fight the coronavirus. “With the city itself, we have a Skype call with the city manager and all the department heads every morning. … It’s been wonderful to watch this process roll out, everybody working together and looking out for each other.”