In times like these, some people may differ as to what defines essential businesses and services. With the public health, safety and well-being a priority, sanitation companies and waste collection services are officially considered essential and Atlantic Waste Services, Inc. employees are doing their part.

“Everyone at Atlantic Waste knows that our company provides much-needed services. Day in and day out, our employees understand this fact as well as the importance of working safely, practicing good hygiene and wearing appropriate work gear,” Ben Wall, vice president of Atlantic Waste, said.

Atlantic Waste employees were doing this before the COVID-19 pandemic and realize now, more than ever, how important it is to have these safety precautions, Wall explained. Atlantic Waste serves residential, commercial and industrial customers in unincorporated Chatham and Effingham Counties in addition to cities and towns including Pooler, Richmond Hill, Tybee Island, and Thunderbolt.

“We know that these are tough times for everyone. A lot of people are not able to go to work or school right now,” Wall said. “There are numerous challenges and we have to do everything we can to help while keeping our employees and the community safe.”

With the recent disruptions in everyone’s lives due to the pandemic, Wall added that Atlantic Waste is hoping to offer a basic form of normality. He noted that his company will continue to work within the communities and provide regular service as long as it is allowed by local governments.

“We do have one request,” Wall said. “In order to reduce exposure to our employees, we are asking customers to bag all solid waste materials. We remain committed to the safety of our employees and customers. Although our Pooler office is closed to the general public, we are assisting customers via telephone, email, Facebook, and our website.”

Atlantic Waste is adhering to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. These guidelines include workers washing their hands often, keeping the trucks and garages sanitized, and wiping down all surfaces each day.