CHILDREN and residents in Wychavon have been surprising their bin collectors with heartfelt messages of praise, good wishes, colourful drawings and even small gifts to thank them for being “true heroes” for the community in the face of Covid-19.

While the vast majority of people are isolated in their households, key workers across the UK are on the frontline continuing to deliver for the nation.

Along with countless professionals in the emergency services, health, social care and other vital sectors, the list of essential workers also includes waste management.

Waste and recycling crews such as drivers and collectors are still out on our streets, carrying out their crucial work to help support our communities, doing their part to protect public health.

Cleaning up the streets and neighbourhoods of Wychavon is one such crew from FCC Environment.

Over the last few weeks, the team has been receiving warm handwritten notes and drawings as residents thanked them and wished them good health.

READ MORE: Pershore sewing project sees huge demand for nurses' wash bags

Paul Farmer, FCC Environment contract manager, said: “We were overjoyed to receive such encouraging and warm messages from the community.

"I am immensely proud of the FCC Environment team and the wider waste and resource management industry for doing our very best to continue our day-to-day duties during these extremely challenging times.

“We also want to take this opportunity to reassure the public that FCC Environment is working hard to ensure that household waste is collected in a timely manner as well as urging them to continue to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as of their waste as possible.”

About 107,000 people in the waste and resource management industry have been identified by the Government as key workers, among them around 70 people at FCC Environment.

Household recycling and waste collections are operating as normal in the Wychavon area with the exception of bulky waste.

Following Government advice, to protect workers and combat the spread of infection, anyone who feels ill at home (whether diagnosed with Covid-19 or not) should place all their waste in the general rubbish bin, and should double-bag it, making sure the bags are securely tied.

They should then wait at least 72 hours before placing it out for collection. For now, this material should not be put in your recycling.