Carry On Working: Challenges facing binmen during the pandemic

Over the next couple of weeks, ITV Border will be looking at the lives of key workers who are battling through all the challenges of the pandemic to provide a service for us.

One of the most vital services is that of binmen. We've been out with a team in Carlisle, Cumbria, who are collecting more than just rubbish on their rounds.

David Byers said: "We are dealing with a lot more waste, people are at home doing the spring cleaning, homes are getting tidy and we are getting the extra waste."

Credit: ITV News

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the three person team would travel on the bin wagon together but due to social distancing one drives and the others follow in a van

They wear protection on their faces and hands and they have all been going that extra mile due to sickness.

At one point at the start of April 50% of the staff were off because of coronavirus and isolation regulations, though that figure has now dropped.

Since the outbreak started, people have been showing their appreciation and thanks with presents and lots of cards.

Councillor Nigel Christian, from Carlisle City Council, said: "I really just want to say a huge thank you to the team for getting on and doing their job."

But there is a couple of other things people can do to help keep their binmen safe. Sam Holloway: "If I could just ask them to help protect our crews by washing their hands before they put the bins out and when they put them back in again and wiping the handles down it just gives them that extra protection"

A small thing like that would mean a lot to them

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know