Garbage collection resumed in Reykjavík this morning despite an ongoing strike among City of Reykjavík staff who are members of Efling Union. Garbage collection was suspended when a general strike began on February 17. The service has now been temporarily exempted from the strike due to public health concerns connected to COVID-19. Three cases of the virus have been confirmed in Iceland.
Garbage collection began in the neighbourhood of Breiðholt this morning, and the neighbourhood of Árbær will follow later in the week. City workers did not manage to collect garbage from these two neighbourhoods before the strike began.
Only mixed household waste will be collected from private residences this week, not paper or plastic. Residents of Reykjavík can bring sorted paper and plastic recycling to Sorpa’s drop-off centres
The strike exemption for garbage collection will stand until March 6.
