Broxtowe council rolls out ‘low noise’ bin lifts

Nottinghamshire local authority unveils two low voltage waste vehicles for ‘environmentally friendly’ bin collections

Broxtowe borough council has rolled out two waste vehicles fitted with low voltage, low noise bin lifts so as not to wake residents during early morning kerbside collections.

The new ‘environmentally friendly’ vehicles, together worth an estimated £300,000, use electric OminDEL E bin lifts that aim to prevent excessive noise during bin rounds.

Mayor of Broxtowe councillor Susan Bagshaw tests the new bin lift

Bin lifts are normally powered by a hydraulic pump driven by the vehicle engine. However, the OminDEL E design means the lifts are powered by battery and enables the lifting mechanism to be operated at engine idling speed.

The refuse trucks are part of the Nottinghamshire council’s fleet renewal program, which has seen its waste fleet fitted with the noise cancelling technology from supplier Terberg Matec UK.

The vehicles have been purchased through the Nottinghamshire Vehicle Consortium, a venture made up of 11 local authorities that comprises Derby city council and the districts of Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Bolsover, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Broxtowe, Erewash, Gedling and Rushcliffe borough councils.

Framework

The consortium was formed with the aim of delivering greater efficiency, and is currently undertaking a second renewed four-year framework agreement with Terberg for supply of waste vehicles.

Around 120 vehicles were supplied to the consortium during the initial four-year contract, with a similar number expected to be delivered by 2016.

The Mayor of Broxtowe, councillor Susan Bagshaw, was on hand to test one of the new ‘whisper quiet’ vehicles before they were brought into operation. Her tour of the vehicle saw her try out the controls and load a wheelie bin.

The Mayor received a full explanation of the vehicle from the council’s head of environment Paul Summers, as well as Terberg’s contract manager Gary Fisher and director Rob Colby.

The low noise bin lifts are the latest initiative to be rolled out by Broxtowe council, with enhancements to the waste fleet’s in-cab technology also expected.

A spokesperson for Broxtowe council said: “The council is looking to further develop the Bartec system which is currently used for domestic collection, to trade waste collections. The real time in-cab system currently allows direct contact between the refuse back office systems and the vehicle to notify drivers of changes during the round and to gather information on missed collections.”