News:
World’s first zero-carbon battery collection service launched in Plymouth
Plymouth harnesses pedal power as zero-carbon battery collection service launches after roll outs in London, Cambridge, Brighton, and Hereford.
In Plymouth, Valpak will supply free battery boxes to businesses throughout the city. These are then collected free of charge by Zedify cycle couriers whilst they’re delivering packages across the city.
Valpak says the scheme adds to the company’s existing battery service, which collects millions of batteries from over 30,000 businesses around the UK, including household names such as Sainsburys, Co-op, and M&S.
Commercial Manager at Valpak, James Nash, said: “The expansion of the zero-carbon service to Plymouth is gathering pace already and we’re urging businesses of all sizes to take advantage of the scheme.
“This is a triple-win for businesses – ensuring batteries are recycled correctly, helping them to reduce their carbon footprint and, importantly, making sure enough batteries are recycled each year to allow retailers to meet their environmental compliance obligations.”
The scheme was initially launched in Cambridge and Valpak says has generated more than three tonnes of batteries to date. Following a positive reaction to the world-first scheme, London was next to introduce the zero-carbon collection service, with Valpak saying the capital has already collected over 10 tonnes of batteries.
CMS SupaTrak’s in-cab job management solution helps operators optimise fleet performance
CMS SupaTrak says it developed the JobTrak solution to support its customers’ needs when it comes to optimising route or job management.
CMS SupaTrak provides fleet intelligence solutions in the telematics industry. The company says it specialises in helping customers reduce their costs and carbon footprint, as well as improving fleet compliance and safety through tracking and effective driver behaviour management.
The JobTrak system has been developed in consultation with both system users and drivers from multiple customers, which CMS SupaTrak says is to ensure that it meets the requirements of everybody involved in the management of waste or several other sectors.
CMS SupaTrak’s Head of UK Sales, Stephen Strange, said: “Our in-cab route management system allows organisations to manage their workforce dynamically, capture route exception information and handle ad-hoc service requests.
“We also have extensive experience of integrating with third party CRMs and other such systems using our comprehensive API to name but one method.”
CMS SupaTrak says the system has been designed to help customers remove as much of the paperwork as possible by allowing crews to complete routes, record exceptions and notify office teams of delays.
Drivers can also view property special instructions, assisted collection requirements, and route risk assessments in real-time.
UKCM expands mobile fleet in response to customer demand
Container repair and refurbishment specialist UK Container Maintenance (UKCM), has expanded its fleet of rapid response vehicles and mobile engineers in response to customer demand, asset tracking, and container safety.
UKCM says it has upweighted its operational capability to meet the significant increase in demand for its mobile inspection engineers to visit client premises for container repair and refurbishment, installation of container tracking devices, and also undertaking any LOLER and statutory testing.
The LOLER surveys involve a systematic and detailed examination of the equipment and safety-critical parts, together with certification to evidence compliance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations governing all operations and equipment that involve lifting people, goods, and equipment at work.
Established in 1998, the UKCM Mobile Inspection Engineers are national and travel to each site carrying out a survey of the banks and supplying a detailed report confirming if the bank is fit for purpose, or if the bank is defective and unsafe for use.
Onsite Manager at UKCM, Danielle McIntosh, said: “Organisations are increasingly asking for the repair and servicing to be carried out at their own depots, reducing their container supply and maintenance costs, in addition to lowering their carbon footprint with unnecessary collections and deliveries.
Due to a significant rise in existing and new customers moving towards our onsite services, we are continuously looking to expand our services and increase how many mobile units and skilled engineers we have on the road, allowing us to cover more of the UK while ensuring we keep to our timely lead-times.”
Enfield Council weighs up the benefits of MOBA technology
Bin weighing technology is fast becoming a must-have requirement on waste trucks as both public and private sector collection companies appreciate the many benefits that it offers, Enfield Council says.
The council says that overweight bins are an issue that all waste collectors are having to address. Their impact on the bottom line could be considerable without proper checks and balances but there is also the matter of the damage that they can cause to the waste vehicle’s lifting mechanisms.
In 2018, Enfield Council overhauled its domestic and commercial waste collection fleet and future-proofing was a major consideration, such as ensuring there was a way of identifying overloaded bins.
The council says that having comprehensively researched the market for suitable vendors, Enfield Council chose MOBA as its preferred supplier of bin weighing and RFID technology.
Head of Fleet at Enfield Council, Julian Minta, said: “Bins that are filled above their contractual weight not only damage the bins themselves but also, more importantly, the bin lift frame.
“Once a lift is attempted, the bin also invariably then ends up in the back of the truck. The consequence of all of this results in disruption of service and thousands of pounds worth of repair bills.
“Since we’ve been using MOBA’s dynamic bin weighing and RFID systems, however, we’ve experienced very little damage to our vehicles, or bins, from overloaded containers, resulting in substantial savings.”
Enfield Council says it will be able to exploit the wealth of data generated by MOBA’s technology for the benefit of its customers. An example the council gives is analysing bin weight the data could help reduce the amount of residual waste thrown through a combination of better education and providing additional recycling bins.
Dennis Eagle launches 4×2 eCollect
A new model of the all-electric eCollect refuse collection vehicle has been launched by Dennis Eagle, which it says is the second configuration of the eRCV – originally launched in 2020.
The company says it chose the 18t 4×2 model as the next eCollect to meet the urgent demand for a small zero-emissions RCV suited to collection rounds in urban areas with restricted access. These rounds are often in locations suffering from poor air quality.
The 4×2 eCollect is a smaller version of the original 6×2 but it has a 10m³ body capable of carrying 4.8 tonnes – the same as its diesel equivalent. And like the 6×2, it has a Narrow Track chassis to provide optimum manoeuvrability.
Dennis Eagle Sales and Marketing Manager, Lee Rowland, said: “The new 4×2 eCollect is firmly based on the original 6×2. It’s a similar vehicle with a smaller footprint – very little has changed apart from size.
“But it is a very significant development for our customers. We chose the next eCollect model to be the 4×2 because many of the places a vehicle of this size will be used have air quality issues which are being treated as a priority by our customers.
“It is already clear we have another operationally efficient and cost-effective eRCV in our range.”
World’s first hydrogen digger parades for the queen
The world’s first digger powered by a hydrogen combustion engine was driven as part of a Platinum Jubilee Pageant parade marking the Queen’s 70-year reign.
The JCB backhoe loader – in a distinctive green and white livery – made its way along The Mall in London towards Buckingham Palace driven by JCB Test Site Operator Georgina Williams, 30.
The machine was developed in secret by Staffordshire-based JCB and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant was its first major public outing on the world stage. JCB Chairman Lord Bamford is leading the project to develop JCB machines powered by hydrogen.
JCB Chairman, Lord Bamford, said: “I was immensely proud to see JCB’s first hydrogen powered product take centre stage at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 70-year reign. So much has happened over the past seven decades and the jubilee has now focused minds on the need to take greater care of the environment in the future.
“I was so pleased to share at the Pageant how we are focusing on the development of JCB machines powered by hydrogen, which will help drive us towards a zero-carbon future.”
JCB says it has invested £100 million in the project to produce super-efficient hydrogen engines and a team of 100 engineers is working on the development.
As well as the backhoe loader which paraded down The Mall, JCB has also unveiled a second prototype machine powered by hydrogen: a Loadall telescopic handler, which is used in the construction industry and on farms around the world.
Re-Gen visit to ‘green’ cement plant in Spain
Representatives of Re-Gen Waste have visited Holcim in Spain to see the process behind the ECOPlanet range of green cement.
Holcim says it uses Re-Gen solid recovered fuel (SRF) as a partial substitute for the burning of fossil coal in the heat generation required in cement production.
Joseph Doherty, Re-Gen’s Managing Director, said: “The partial replacement of fossil fuel by SRF is becoming increasingly significant as the cement industry strives toward decarbonisation. Low carbon construction is the future.
“There are two benefits of solid recovered fuel in cement production. The energy value within the fuel is fully utilised and the high temperature within the process completely destroys all elements of the SRF with remaining ash being incorporated within the cement.
“The full recovery of energy and complete destruction of the waste derived fuel is another step in Re-Gen’s development strategy.
“Partnering with a multi-national like Holcim allows Re-Gen to be at the forefront of latest technological advances in waste treatment and consistently horizon scan for the next refinement to our processes.”
Fiveways supports Alzheimer’s Society with £60K donation
Waste collection vehicle hire specialists, Fiveways Group, has announced that it will be donating all the revenue generated from the hire of the company’s brand-new Dennis vehicle to Alzheimer’s Society, its chosen charity for 2022/3.
It is expected that hiring the Dennis 6×2 narrow rear steer vehicle, which comes fitted with Terberg omnidel lifts, will raise over £60,000 for Alzheimer’s Society over the course of the year. This vital funding will be used to help those living with dementia as well as supporting ground-breaking research. In fact, £60,000 could help to pay for two community-based Dementia Advisers for a whole year.
The vehicle is also fitted with Fiveways’ patented LED digital advertising screens designed to engage, captivate and convey marketing messages to a target audience in real time. This creative and mobile advertising space can be used by local authorities and other customers to promote initiatives and services or generate additional revenue from the sale of screen time.
Commenting on the decision to support Alzheimer’s Society, Fiveways’ Head of Development, Emma Cheesman, said: “Someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia every three minutes. This donation will enable Alzheimer’s Society to provide additional help to the 900,000 people living with dementia as well as supporting additional research which is currently drastically underfunded.
Someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia every three minutes. This donation will enable Alzheimer’s Society to provide additional help to the 900,000 people living with dementia as well as supporting additional research which is currently drastically underfunded.
“We also hope the visually striking vehicle, which was kindly wrapped free of charge by EPIC Media Group, will increase awareness of the Society and the fantastic work it does. This charity was chosen above many other worthy causes as several of our employees have family members or friends recently diagnosed with dementia – it’s a cause close to home.”
Local authorities and other customers interested in hiring the vehicle and supporting Alzheimer’s Society can see the Fiveways vehicle being exhibited at the Road Transport Expo, NAEC Stoneleigh Warwickshire, from 30th June – 2nd July 2022. Bookings for the vehicle are being taken from August 2022 to September 2023.
Alex Hyde-Smith, Director of Fundraising at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “By 2025, one million people in the UK will be living with dementia and many millions more carers, partners, families and friends will be affected.
“We are immensely grateful to be chosen as Fiveways’ charity of the year so that we can continue to provide help and hope to those affected by dementia, both now and in the future.
“Too many people face dementia alone. We want everyone affected to know that whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for support.
“With money raised from the hire of the Dennis vehicle, and fundraising efforts of staff throughout the year, we can make a real difference to the lives of people affected by dementia.”
Fiveways and its employees will also be undertaking additional fundraising over the course of the year. This includes mechanic, Chris Ringrose, who is running the London Marathon on 2nd October 2022.
Support people affected by dementia by wearing a Forget Me Not badge this June and help to fund life-changing dementia support by Alzheimer’s Society. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/forgetmenot for more information.
Updates:
Electric material handler protected by fireward fire suppression
Fireward were recently at Countrystyle’s Ridham Dock facility to install a Fully Automated Dry Powder system on a Solmec 5020 Electric Material handler (supplied by EH Hassels).
Over the past 21 years, the UK has had an average of GBP 23 billion worth of exports of electrical machinery and equipment per year. In addition to this, within the waste and recycling industry, there are approximately 300 significant fires per year.
With more of these machines in the demand for protection, Fireward are always evolving and adapting our technology to support protecting electrical heavy plant and machinery. Fireward was born within this industry therefore, we must ensure that our systems provide them 24/7 protection.
Fireward were recently at Countrystyle’s Ridham Dock facility to install a Fully Automated Dry Powder system on a Solmec 5020 Electric Material handler (supplied by EH Hassels).
This machine will reduce emissions and help provide a cleaner operation. As companies within the Waste and Recycling industry now have a responsibility for ‘going green’ the equipment used must be sustainable. The zero -emission Solmec is an ideal example of the type of heavy plant required.
We usually use Dry Powder and Wet Chemical simultaneously as they are extremely effective when it comes to large fires in hot engine bays. However, as this machine is fully electric there is no need for the cooling properties from the Wet Chemical. Dry Powder has powerful fire knockdown features, which makes it the perfect suppressant agent for this machine.
