ANYONE self-isolating is being urged to follow new advice for disposing of rubbish to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Recycling sites across South Lanarkshire have been closed as the council ask residents to take extra precautions when throwing out personal waste such as used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths.

People who are self-isolating either as a precaution or because they are confirmed to have coronavirus should put personal waste in a plastic bag or bin liner which should then be put in a second bag and tied.

Any bags with personal waste should be kept separate to other rubbish for at least 72 hours (three days) before being put in your black or green bin as normal.

On their website, South Lanarkshire Council said: “After 72 hours outside the body the virus is no longer viable and the double-bagged waste can be put in the general rubbish collection as normal.

“Only waste that is contaminated, such as tissues that have been coughed in and cleaning cloths, need to be treated in this way.

“Regular household recycling and waste should be treated as normal.”

SLC have also decided to focus resources on household bin collections and – as of Monday, March 23 – all recycling centres have been closed and some ‘on request’ services suspended.

The suspended services are the bulky uplift request service for things like fridges, carpets, mattresses and sofas; the garden waste collection service and deliveries of dog bags, food waste liners, caddies and recycling bins.

The council added on their website: “To make sure we are able to continue to provide our household waste collection service during this demanding period, we have the taken the difficult decision to suspend a number of our ‘on request’ services until further notice.

“Waste services will make every effort to complete any requests that have already been received.

“All of our amenity sites will be closed until further notice. We will update you if and when this changes.”