When it comes to homeless encampment cleaning in Huntington Beach, California, you want the job done as quickly, thoroughly, and efficiently as possible. The number of homeless encampments is on the rise throughout the state, with more and more popping up in new areas every day. In addition to creating social services issues within the community, these encampments also pose a severe health risk if they’re not cleaned and sanitized once they’ve been removed. At Eco Bear, we know the challenges that come along with homeless encampment cleaning, and we’re here to help.

Why Should You Leave the Cleaning To Professional Homeless Encampment Cleaners?

Homeless encampment cleaning is an extremely tough job. Many city sanitation workers say that it’s their least favorite type of cleanup due to the sheer amount of and type of waste located at these sites. There’s also the emotional and mental element that many people find difficult to navigate as they go through the cleanup process. 

Professional homeless encampment cleanup crews like ours know exactly how to handle site cleaning with expediency and efficiency. Our teams understand that clearing and cleaning these encampments the right way is critical because the sites present a health and safety issue for the homeless community and the community at large. Homeless encampments quickly become overrun with trash and waste, raising the extreme likelihood that there could be an outbreak of illnesses like Hepatitis A and other communicable diseases. Keeping these areas clean is vital for the public health. 

Our teams are trained to handle the specific type of wastes prevalent in homeless encampments that cause the spread of disease. They know how to protect themselves with special PPE gear that helps keep them safe while allowing them to do a thorough cleaning. People who don’t have the training and know-how to mitigate infection risks could end up doing more harm than good.

What Type of Waste Do You Encounter at Homeless Encampments?

The sheer amount of waste found at homeless encampments is overwhelming, but what’s even more concerning is the large amount of biohazardous waste at these sites. Biohazardous waste is the single most dangerous type of waste at homeless encampments. Biohazardous waste is any type of waste that contains pathogens. Pathogens are microbes or microorganisms like viruses and bacteria that cause diseases in humans. 

Biohazardous waste includes things like blood, body fluids, human waste, pet waste, vermin waste, and a host of other dangerous substances that are frequently found at homeless encampments. 

Many people bring their pets into these spaces. Not only do they not clean up after them, but when those animals die, their carcasses are sometimes left there. This creates a serious and urgent biohazard risk.

Rotting food Is another type of biohazardous waste located at home encampment sites. People who live on these sites do not have access to refrigerators or pantries. The food they keep with them often far exceeds its expirations, and much of it must be refrigerated in order to remain safe for consumption. This lack of adequate food storage results in spoiled and rotten food that has the ability to develop pathogens.

Why Is Biohazardous Waste So Dangerous?

As mentioned above, biohazardous waste is so dangerous because it contains pathogens that can harm humans. When you have an unattended and unregulated homeless encampment, illness caused by these pathogens is able to spread freely. Most of these residents do not have access to healthcare, creating an even bigger health crisis. These diseases do not stay on the property, but instead to spread to the community at large. Before long, you could be dealing with a citywide health issue.

What Are the Basic Steps Involved in Homeless Encampment Cleaning?

The exact steps for homeless encampment cleaning varies by site, but the essential steps are listed below.

• Our initial task will be to remove all of the makeshift shelters that have been built up. This includes cardboard boxes, tarps, and anything else. 
• We’ll get rid of all of the debris that’s located on the site. 
• We’ll meticulously go through every inch of the site and remove all drug paraphernalia, including needles, drugs, sharp, and other items. 
• The next part of the process is to remove all of the biohazardous waste. This includes human waste, animal waste, spoiled food, and garbage. We will decontaminate it and place it into special hazmat bags and containers so that it will be safe for transport.
• We will then clean, disinfectants, decontaminate, and deodorize the area with federally approved cleaning agents to help ensure that everyone in the immediate and surrounding vicinity is safe.

You probably have a lot of other questions about homeless encampment cleaning in Huntington. Give us a call so that we can help you figure out your next step. The entire process may feel a bit challenging, but that’s exactly why we’re here to help.