Since COVID-19 patients (F0) were allowed to be treated at home, garbage collection workers from environmental enterprises Da Nang-wide have to head to each house having F0 to collect daily household waste regardless of scorching or rainy days or even being at high risk of infection. Although their duty is heavy, they have always tried their utmost to fulfil the garbage collection processes, ensuring the safety of themselves and the community.

Ms Dang Thi Tuoi (left) and Ms Dang Thi Diep, working for Son Tra Environmental Enterprise, collect garbage from F0’s households. Photo: HA KHUE

The image of workers Dang Thi Tuoi and Dang Thi Diep of Son Tra Environmental Enterprise in blue protective suits and face shields against droplets to collect garbage at apartments having F0s has become familiar to people of Phuoc My Ward. They use a motorbike to pull two trash cans and creep along alleys to collect F0s' waste in the locality until 5:30 pm or 6:00 pm

“As this is the potentially infectious waste, we all agree on the time of garbage collection with local people to avoid they put it together with ordinary waste. We wait for landlords to bring the garbage out to leave at the gate, then disinfect the garbage bag and put it in our trash cans," said Ms Tuoi.

According to environmental workers, F0s’ households are scattered on different roads and in alleys so it’s difficult to go deep inside. Besides, their tight protective suits, as well as erratic weather, have caused inconvenience and exhaustion for them.

In addition, many COVID-19 cases stay at rental apartments or at hotels so it is very difficult to contact them when does not answer the phone. Sometimes, these workers had to wait for half an hour to pick up the garbage. However, Ms Tuoi and Ms Diep are always conscious of ensuring the safety of themselves and their families.

In the same vein, worker Dang Son of Hai Chau Environmental Enterprise is in charge of 3 wards Hoa Cuong Bac, Hoa Cuong Nam, Hoa Thuan Tay with more than 360 locations to collect garbage.

“Every day, I go to collect garbage at F0s' houses from 7:00 am to about 4:00 pm and go to have lunch. In the evening, I went straight to my own room to limit close contact with my relatives to avoid infection. Since the day of performing the task of collecting garbage at the F0s’ houses, my work becomes more difficult," said Mr Dang Son.

Similarly, Mr Doan Thanh Ly working for Thanh Khe Environmental Enterprise also strives to complete the work in Thac Gian and Vinh Trung wards and then bring it to the collection point at the end of Huynh Ngoc Hue street, An Khe Ward, Thanh Khe District. His daily travel distance is quite long with a lot of garbage. 

As shared by many urban environmental workers collecting garbage of F0, their common desire is that locals can raise their awareness more so that garbage collection is convenient. We should avoid mixing waste between F0s’ households and environmental waste to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure safety for people and the community.

Reporting by HA KHUE- Translating by T.VY