Otto is to supply 12 refuse lifts to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council as part of the council’s plans to increase recycling levels in the unitary authority.
The council recorded only a 14% recycling and composting rate in the latest set of statistics published by Defra, compared with a government target of 18 %, but councillors have now backed a scheme to increase the kerbside collection of paper and magazines.
The roll out of a green and blue bin recycling system began in February last year in the Bridlington area. Householders have a 180 litre green wheeled bin for general waste and 140 litre blue wheeled bins for paper recycling. The two bin system is scheduled to cover the whole unitary area by next summer.
The council's fleet of 50 refuse vehicles provide collection services for East Riding's 314,000 population. Half of the vehicles are now equipment with Otto lifts.
Mike Bonnell, a fleet management engineer with the council, said: “Our fleet will expand as we provide higher levels of service to drive down the volume of waste directed to landfill and increase recycling volumes. We are currently studying the possibilities of kerbside green waste collection.”
Health and safety boost from new bin-cleaning device
A new product to improve the convenience and safety of cleaning wheeled bins is being launched by start-up company based in Nottingham.
 The Gyrobin could help avoid injuries involved in the cleaning and maintenance of bins |
The “Gyrobin” is being launched at the Stoneleigh Live recycling and waste exhibition, which takes place at the National Agricultural Centre in Stoneleigh, near Coventry, next week.
Essentially, the Gyrobin allows operatives to turn Eurobin-style wheeled bins “easily and effortlessly” for cleaning and maintenance. The company behind it, run by managing director Pat Chambers, believes it can reduce the injuries that sometimes arise with manual handling and lifting.
Its inventors also believe it can cut costs in that one person can operate the Gyrobin, improving productivity and working efficiencies. The Gyrobin is available in either a static or mobile form.
For more information on the Stoneleigh Live show on March 15 and 16, see the official website.
Crusher promises compact solution for plastic bottles
A Mid-Wales company has designed a new plastic bottle compactor which it claims could revolutionise kerbside recycling for councils and contractors throughout the UK.
 Left to right: Ewan MacPherson and Jayne Carruthers of EIS Ltd, Catherine Peasley of the Welsh Development Agency and Michael Parry of Gwynedd Council at the launch of the Crusher. |
Developed by Powys firm Ethical Innovatory Solutions (EIS) Ltd, the “Crusher” can be fitted to kerbside collection vehicles and will allow greater volumes of household waste to be carried by compacting plastic bottles during collection rounds.
Director Ewan MacPherson said the company is already in talks with several local authorities in both England and Wales who have expressed an interest in the new product.
“Currently the collection of plastic bottles is not efficient. The bottles themselves take up so much room and require vehicles to make several return journeys. The Crusher effectively increases carrying capability by 50 per cent as it condenses the bottles first by piercing them and then by crushing them.”
The new Crusher device was launched at the Welsh Development Agency's Environmental Goods and Services Waste Showcase 2005 event staged in Machynlleth, Powys.
Register for free to comment