The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) has retained The Vogel Group to advance its requests that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Treasury Department establish a system to compensate the industry for providing services to protect public health and safety that would otherwise go unpaid and that FEMA list waste and recycling as a priority industry with vendors of personal protective equipment (PPE).
“During this national emergency, NWRA members will continue providing waste and recycling services to their customers and elsewhere as may be needed in order to protect the public’s health and safety. Sometimes, they will not get paid,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith in a statement. “Providing these essential services to those unable to pay as a result of economic hardships caused by COVID-19 while continuing to employ the workforce needed to support such an effort will require assistance.”
“Furthermore, our workers are on the frontlines making sure that the waste that is generated during this health crisis is disposed of properly. They cannot do that without the appropriate PPE as indicated by OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration],” added Smith.
The Vogel Group is deeply involved in COVID-19 response engagement and has significant experience working with the administration on a range of issues.