As many residents are using the increased time at home to tidy up, the District of Squamish is asking people to visit the landfill for essential purposes only.
"We know there are many who are taking advantage of this extra time at home to tackle household projects but we are encouraging all residents to hold off on making unnecessary donation drop-offs and trips to the landfill for the time being,” said Mayor Karen Elliott, in a news release.
The landfill remains open, but there will be longer wait times and delays due to physical distancing measures put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last customer load will be accepted at 5:45 p.m., 15 minutes before closing, to maintain a limited number of vehicles on site.
Anyone dropping off medical waste must bag it separately, as it poses a hazard to landfill staff. This includes used personal protective equipment, or PPE, such as masks, gloves, sanitary wipes and other related items.
Authorities are asking people to take the following steps to reduce trips to the landfill.
* Ask yourself if the items need to be disposed of immediately;
* Maximize space in your recycling tote and store any excess recyclables;
* Create a donation station at home for a later drop-off;
* Stay home if you are feeling ill;
* Ensure all waste is disposed of properly. If you're unsure of what goes where, download the District’s Household Recycling Guideor use the Waste Wizard Tool.
Landfill hours and a list of prohibited items can be found at the District’s landfill website.
