Arlington, VA – The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) released its fact sheet explaining the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 announced today by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The new ETS requires employers with 100 or more employees to ensure each of their workers is fully vaccinated or tests negative for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.

“NWRA appreciates the work of OSHA and our federal partners to keep our industry and the nation’s workforce safe during this global pandemic. Our staff is fully vaccinated, and we have encouraged the waste and recycling industry to do the same,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith. “The industry and the country do not need a waste crisis.”

These rules in the ETS preempt any inconsistent state or local laws, including laws that ban or limit an employer’s authority to require vaccination, masks or testing.