Torridge trials ‘efficient’ kerbside-sort vehicles

The Devon council is considering moving back to a kerbside sort system as part of wider plans to reshape its waste collection service (see letsrecycle.com story).

From today (4 May) the council is trialling the use of the Romaquip vehicles to assess the performance and capabilities of resuming a kerbside sorting system in urban and rural parts of the district.

Trial

Outlining the reasons for the trial, the council noted that the vehicles could allow for a more efficient unloading process without the need for further sorting while improving the quality of materials by sorting them at source.

Torridge council had previously operated a kerbside-sort system for recyclables, with a green box for glass, tins and plastics, a green bag for paper and textiles and a brown bag for cardboard.

South Molton

In June 2015, the council’s longstanding collection provider – social enterprise South Molton Recycling – suddenly entered administration, leaving residents without a kerbside service. The collections were brought in-house and reinstated by the council in July 2015.

But, while the box and bag system remained unchanged, Torridge advised residents recyclables would not be sorted at the kerbside but commingled for later sorting at Devon Waste Management’s MRF in Exeter.

Review

Commenting on the trial Torridge’s waste and recycling Manager, Richard Haste said: “The trial is part of the council’s dry recycling vehicle fleet review which is aimed at delivering an improved, more efficient and sustainable service to our residents. More trials of other recycling vehicles will be scheduled for 2017 before any fleet renewal decisions are taken.

“It is vital that we assess all vehicle options to ensure we obtain not only the best value for money but also that the benefits of any system can be accurately gauged and measured in a real life situation. We want any changes to not only provide us with the most efficient service but also encourage improved levels of recycling and improvements in the variety and quality of the materials collected. The trials will help in showing us which options are best suited to helping us achieve these goals.”