Vision Techniques launches a new range of CCTV cameras to prevent fly tipping
After the recently aired BBC panorama investigation into how the government’s licensing system for waste carriers fails to prevent fly tipping, there is increased focus on this troubling environmental plague.
To support local authorities and private landowners in the fight against fly tipping and antisocial behaviour, Vision Techniques has launched a new range of covert CCTV cameras.
The new range of cameras are battery powered, with the option to choose additional high efficiency solar panel units, giving approximately 8 to 12 weeks of power. They can be pre-programmed and installed quickly, with no technical knowledge required. The CCTV camera unit can be configured to record at selected times, enabling the operator to choose the periods of cover, such as dusk till dawn, when offences often occur. There are many options available to access to the recorded and stored footage.
It can be viewed via a built in SD card, via a local Wi-Fi connection and can also be reviewed by the use of remote cloud-based connectivity using a 3g/4g Sim card. In addition to this, the device can send MMS pictures to your mobile phone or email when movement is detected by the built in passive infrared sensors. To ensure durability and additional protection, steel mounting boxes can also be provided.
Sales Director, James Newhill explains that “Since the recent broadcast of the BBC Panorama documentary, we have received an increase in enquiries for covert systems to monitor areas that are vulnerable to fly tipping offences.
“The new covert CCTV systems are ideal for fly tipping enforcement, antisocial behaviour environments as well as construction and industrial estate security.
Hambleton accommodates new homes with greener waste and recycling fleet
Local population growth, increased recycling quantities and extensive new residential developments have led Hambleton District Council to expand its refuse and recycling collection fleet with vehicles part-powered by electricity to reduce carbon emissions.
In February the authority took delivery of six new 26t Dennis Eagle Twinpack refuse trucks, to replace and expand its existing fleet of five vehicles. In line with the council’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions the new vehicles are fitted with electric triple bin lifts, which use less diesel than hydraulic lifts and are also quieter thus reducing noise pollution.
Cllr Stephen Watson, Cabinet spokesperson, Hambleton District Council: “These electric bin lifts will not only help reduce our carbon emissions but are also less noisy, so they are far more environmentally friendly.”
The council already operates 4 electric vehicles comprising two cars and two Nissan eNV200 electric vans.
“Unfortunately, we cannot move to all electric vehicles as our rounds are too long and currently the technology would not allow them to complete a round without needing recharging. But we are looking at all ways to reduce emissions and using electric vehicles where it is possible.”
Sue Seddon, Technical Support Manager, Hambleton District Council: “We have invested in an additional vehicle to accommodate collections from a large number of new properties, which will ultimately create a new round. The sixth vehicle will be supporting the rest of the fleet with recycling, garden waste and household refuse collections until the new properties come online.”
All the vehicles have been supplied by the council’s vehicle partner Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS) as part of a 10-year contract hire agreement awarded in 2015. SFS first became Hambleton District Council’s vehicle partner in 2007 and since then the authority has renewed its contract with SFS on three consecutive occasions.
Re-Gen Waste congratulates Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council on Green Bin decision
Elected Council members voted unanimously in favour of extending the green recycling bin service to every household across the Borough, following an overwhelming response to a public consultation carried out last summer, on the preferred option for introducing a fully harmonised kerbside recycling service.
According to Joseph Doherty (pictured right), Managing Director of Re-Gen Waste; “Convenience, simplicity, education and value for money, are key to increasing council recycling rates. Householders want one recycling bin for convenience, they don’t want to struggle with cracked boxes, missing lids, litter and mess.”
He also advises ratepayers in Council areas throughout the UK, who are unhappy with their waste collection system, to play an active role in the decision-making process and ‘persevere’ until they are satisfied, they have been listened to.
Back in March 2019, a Northern Ireland wide recycling poll, commissioned by Re-Gen, revealed that 35% of householders in Armagh rated bins being too small as the biggest issue they had with their collection service.
Of those who only recycled when convenient for them, 38% said they would recycle more if they had one bin for all mixed dry recycling and of those who complained, 72% had asked for their recycling capacity to be doubled.
These survey results were backed up by a public consultation commissioned by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council throughout July and August 2020, where 85% of 9,563 residents who completed the survey, opted for the green bin, which takes all mixed dry recycling. There are c.80,000 households in the ABC Council area, so this sample size was a significant indicator of opinion.
Mr Doherty said: “The surveys indicate that prioritising simplicity and convenience is the best approach to ensuring a high participation level in household recycling, which can be achieved with commingling in one recycling bin.
“Household friendly commingling schemes are more preferable to residents than pre-sort box schemes and Councils working with well invested MRF’s that continue to update their processing ability through changes in technology, are able to meet the highest levels of recycling quality standards and are actively improving their recycling rates.
“The quality standards that can be achieved with automated sorting plants and artificial intelligence, ensure recovered materials are of a high quality, suitable for local manufacturers, such as Huhtamaki and UK manufacturing sectors,” he said.
Blue Group Ranked 31st in The Sunday Times HSBC International Tracked 200
Blue Group were ranked 31st in The Sunday Times International Tracked 200 list for 2021.
The International Track 200 ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest growing overseas sales. The league table has been produced for its 12th year by Fast Track, the Oxford firm that researches Britain’s top performing private companies. This year’s special COVID-19 edition recognises the impressive performance of the 200 businesses and their contributions to the economy during the pandemic.
The Blue Group is made up of a number of companies operating across the UK and Ireland, however only the Group owned companies were taken into account for this ranking, which includes the likes of Blue Spares and Murray Plant.
With an average growth of 82.28% in International sales per annum over the last two years, Blue is establishing itself within overseas markets.
“Having made number 31 out of 200 on the list, we had some great coverage in today’s (21st February 2021) Sunday Times Newspaper,” it said.
The coverage includes a summary of Blue that read: “Blue Group sells a wide range of equipment to the quarrying and demolition, recycling, scrap and energy sectors. Operating throughout the lockdowns, it invested in spare parts and continued to deliver cranes, crushers and industrial shredders to customers across the UK and Ireland. It also sells used equipment worldwide. Under co-founder and chairman Pat McGeary,68, it boosted exports to £2.5million in 2019”.
“It is great to be recognised on such a prestigious list, especially within this COVID-19 Edition, as we have worked hard to keep our customers up and running throughout the pandemic,” the company said.
Epic to fit vehicle livery on over 300 vehicles
EPIC Media Group has been selected by waste management specialist, Biffa, to supply and fit vehicle livery on over 300 vehicles new fleet servicing Cornwall Council’s Waste and Recycling Collection, Street and Public Open Space Cleansing Services Contract.
The new state-of-the-art fleet ranges from Scarab M25H road sweepers up to Terberg kerbside loaders and Dennis Eagle RCVs. With the new service set to help improve recycling rates in Cornwall, the RCVs have been fitted with graphics explaining what can be recycled and promoting garden waste services.
The Kerbside loaders and cage tippers have been fitted with EPIC’s changeable graphic system. The changeable graphics system is designed to provide Cornwall Council with the opportunity to use their refuse fleet as a flexible communications tool, getting messages out to the local communities.
The signage installation has already started, with nearly 120 vehicles already completed, and will continue to be rolled out as the new fleet is introduced over a two-year period, as Cornwall Council introduce food waste services across the county.
Kevin Murton, Managing Director of EPIC Media Group said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the provider of choice for Biffa’s new contract with Cornwall Council. We have worked with Biffa on livery solutions for more than 10 years and we are excited to be part of this project.”
Caerphilly replaces over 300 vehicles
Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) has taken delivery of 315 new vehicles since Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS) won a 7-year fleet replacement contract with the authority in 2017.
SFS has provided a wide range of vehicles since taking over the contract including tippers, road sweepers, gully machines, mini-buses, transit vans, and cars.
This month a new fleet of 11 x Dennis Eagle 26 tonne 6×2 rear steer Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) fitted with the latest ISS 360° camera recording systems has arrived at the council depot. These will be followed by 8 new Nissan e-NV200 electric vans, to facilitate the provision of services such as Meals on Wheels and building cleaning, which will go towards reducing the council’s carbon emissions.
The council is utilising SFS’s back office support to control and monitor the vehicles, and the contract includes maintenance of the vehicles, which SFS has subcontracted back to the council.
SFS has employed a dedicated contract manager located on site at the Council depot to ensure the contract runs smoothly and can utilise the services of its own municipal vehicle hire division, CTS Hire, for the provision of any short-term vehicles.
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS said: “The contract is running very well and we enjoy an excellent working relationship with the Caerphilly team. We are particularly delighted that we have been able to continue delivering replacement vehicles, on schedule, throughout the pandemic.”
