Outdoor Refuse Containers Not Properly Closed or Maintained
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that five of five outdoor refuse containers were closed with tight-fitting lids and kept covered, as required by policy. Observations revealed that six outdoor refuse containers were overfilled with trash bags, preventing the lids from closing fully. One container was completely open, while the others could not be closed due to being overfilled. Housekeeping staff were unaware of which containers belonged to the facility, and it was noted that the containers were shared with a neighboring facility, contributing to the overflow. Staff from the neighboring facility also disposed of trash in these containers without clear designation of ownership. The Director of Maintenance confirmed that the containers were overfilled and could not be closed until the waste management company arrived later in the day. There were no labels or signs indicating which containers belonged to the facility, and the issue of shared containers had not been addressed. The facility's policy required all garbage and refuse containers to have tight-fitting lids and to be kept covered when not in continuous use, but this was not followed, as observed during the survey.