As we begin a new school year, WM would like to remind the public that safety is always our number one priority and especially during this time when children are gathering at bus stops and on the road heading back to school. There are two vehicles that some motorists may attempt to get around: a school bus and a waste collection truck. Both tend to slow traffic while performing necessary duties, and we are urging drivers to be alert and avoid distractions.
As we head out the door to the classroom, WM shares the following truck safety tips:
- Keep a safe distance from the truck – at least 15 feet.
- Every WM truck is equipped with a back-up alarm. Stay alert and listen for the back-up alarm with “beep-beep-beep” sounds. If you hear this sound or see the white back-up lights, be sure to move out of the way of the truck.
- There are several areas where the visibility can be restricted for the driver. If you cannot see the driver’s eyes, they may not be able to see you.
- It can take service vehicles twice as long to stop as a passenger car. Always keep a safe distance from a truck.
- Vehicles like WM trucks make frequent stops and often back up, so don’t follow the truck closely while driving, walking, running or biking.
- If walking, never approach or climb on the truck.
“At WM, our professional drivers approach each and every day with a safety-first mindset. Let’s work together to all do our part to help maintain a safe environment for students traveling to and from school,” said Mark Noel, WM Gulf Coast Area Director Environmental, Health and Safety. “As we start the new school year, WM encourages the community to take precautionary measures to keep everyone safe on the road.”
In addition to putting safety first on the road, WM is also asking the community to join in on being good stewards of the environment. As we pack lunches, snacks and drinks for the day, this can sometimes produce excessive waste with the use of disposable materials, when alternative reusable or recyclable materials could be used.
WM offers the following tips to make this school year a little greener:
- Reduce the trash created by disposable bags, sandwich bags and foil by packing lunches in washable, reusable lunchboxes, bags and containers.
- Use reusable or recyclable beverage containers for drinks to stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Keep in mind that whole fruits and vegetables as snacks are healthier and better for the environment than packaged snacks.
- Instead of purchasing individually wrapped snack-sized packages, buy the larger size and pack snacks in reusable containers to save money and reduce waste.
- When buying new supplies, consider paper and notebooks made from recycled paper as these eco-friendly supply options are available at many large retailer stores.
Working together, we can make it a safe and green school year.