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The beeping at 6am.
The sound of bins clambering together around your street like a early morning 11 a side rugby match.
Being stuck behind one travelling 5mph when you have errands to run.
In all walks of life, at one stage or another, you will have run into a bin wagon (Not literally we hope)
But, no matter where you go around the world, the principle of waste collection will always stay the same.
Every week your local council will plod round in a big, metal box collecting all your recyclable and non-recyclable waste. These machines see plenty of sights and go where nobody else would dare dive... right into your bins!
Without going so far as jumping in the back yourself, have you ever had the curiosity to wonder what happens inside these wagons?
Well, in this blog, we're diving headfirst into the fascinating world of bin wagons, where we can spill the garbage & answer all the burning questions you never had!
In simple terms, a Bin Lorry is a vehicle which travels around emptying and collecting households or businesses waste.
Bin lorries are purpose-built vehicles designed to collect and transport municipal solid waste, including household and commercial waste.
Bin lorries come in all shapes and sizes, but the premise will always stay the same. It is any vehicle that enables a company or council to collect bin waste, be it from the city centre or your local farm!
Without going as far as giving them personal names like Eddie Stobart's Trucks. There are different names for Bin Lorries, as different bin lorries lift and collect in different ways.
All over the world, you will find a wide variety of vehicle types, from your Split Lift, Side Loader to your Rear End Loader, but what is the difference between these?
First and foremost you need a UK Driving Licence, so get your lessons sorted! Once you have your driving licence, there are a few things that you will need to do:
Obtain the Appropriate Driving License: Congratulations, now you have your driving licence you can now drive a tiny little 4 wheeler, but who is content driving them? Bigger is better! You will now need to work towards your Category C or C1 license. This is required for driving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) like bin lorries.
Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC): Get the notebooks out! HGV drivers need to complete the Driver CPC, which consists of initial qualification and training. This is a legal requirement and ensures that you have the necessary skills, knowledge, and understanding of safety regulations. You can find how to work towards your CPC here - https://www.gov.uk/become-lorry-bus-driver/applying-for-a-bus-or-lorry-provisional-entitlement
Gain Driving Experience: Time to don your driving gloves! Employers often prefer candidates with some driving experience. You may start by gaining experience with smaller vehicles before progressing to larger ones.
Search for Job Opportunities: Look for job openings with waste management companies, local councils, or private contractors responsible for waste collection. Job sites like Indeed, Reed etc are good places to get your application uploaded too.
Maintain Continuous Professional Development: Once you have found a suitable job. Congrats, now keep working on yourself. Staying up to date with the latest qualifications. For your CPC you need to renew every 5 years.
It is a simple process, the waste is collected by the waste operator, where it is then lifted onto the back of the bin wagon.
The lip of the bin is placed on the lifting comb and this is what keeps the bin secured as it raised and emptied. Once the waste is inside the hopper (the area where the waste drops into), the bin wagon has a compactor inside, think of it as a large metal hand.
This compactor will actually grab and squeeze all the waste right to the back of the truck to make as much room as possible and to make sure that all the space is being used.
As the truck fills up more, the space gets smaller and smaller until no more can be lifted, meaning that the truck has been filled and this would then have to be tipped at the waste recycling facility or landfill.
Who would have thought the workings of a bin lorry could be this interesting ey? Yeah? Anyone still there?
The name 'Rotopress' is given to these lorries due to big metal rotating drum that compacts the rubbish.
Here is how this works.
Lifting and Grabbing:
Rotating Drum:
Squashing the Rubbish:
Tipping and Emptying:
Moving to the Next Bin:
Unloading at a Disposal Site:
Well, gone are the days of the bulky blokes hauling 5 bins over their shoulder and throwing them into the wagon. We can't even lift 5 shopping bags never mind bins.
Nowadays the process is a lot more automated and the trucks now do the heavy lifting.
The worker will wheel the bin to the back of the lorry (It could be the side or front, depending on where the bin lift is), the operator will put the bin handle onto the arms, and make sure it is securely tightened.
From there, they will then press a button on the side of the vehicle, and the bin will be lifted by the hydraulic arm and tipped into the back of the truck.
Once all tipped out, it would be lowered again and the wheeled bins would be returned back to the customers home.
At the end of the lorry's round, if the truck is full it will be taken to a landfill or for the companies who want to help the environment a little more, this will be taken to a waste to energy facility.
Once there the truck can be tipped from inside the cab.
Once in position, the operator will press the button to raise the tail lift right into the air, once that's raised, they will cycle the scoop up and down to clear any bits left in the hopper at the rear.
They will then eject the load by pressing the button to push out the hydraulic ram, driving the vehicle forward, which forces the waste out of the lorry. Once this has been done, they can clear the waste and close the tail lift.
To close the back section (the tail lift) the operator will need to get out of the cab and once harmlessly out of the way, they will use the buttons on the side for the final last metre of closing.
This is a safety feature that ensures you use both hands and have full visibility, stopping anybody getting trapped. Once tipped and emptied the truck can then be refilled with new waste.
Once the waste is inside the hopper (the area where the waste drops into), the bin wagon has a compactor inside, think of it as a large metal hand. When the waste is collected, the operator activates the compacting blade.
This compactor will actually grab and squeeze all the waste right to the back of the truck to make as much room as possible and to make sure that all the space is being used at all times and to make room for more waste.
When the waste is compacted, this is called the compacting process.
When it comes to waste collections, as you all know, it isn't just bins that need collecting. With bulky items, hazardous waste, litter and other large items that may need collecting, what vehicles are used to collect these?
In the US, you will see plenty of different types, we have all seen the videos of the Side and Front Loaders attempting to work their way along US streets with mountains of waste and recycling left behind due to the arms being too aggressive and chucking it everywhere!
Well, in the UK, we understand that the most efficient way is with Rear Loader split lifts, which is why it is the most popular type. By having operators who collect the wheelie bins for the loading process and manually place them onto the arms, you cut out any mistakes that could be made by an automated lifting machine.
Just like cars, there are plenty of makes and models out there, but what is the most popular make? Well, here are a few of them:
Mercedes-Benz Econic: My other car is a Mercedes! Who doesn't love a Merc. German efficiency at it's finest. Its low-entry design and features make it suitable for urban waste collection.
Volvo FL and FE Series: Now back in the day Volvo used to get a bit of a bad rep for building boring cars, but fast forward 10 years and how all that has changed. Volvo is a respected brand in the UK, and their FL and FE series trucks are commonly used for waste collection. These trucks are known for their efficiency and reliability.
Scania: Scania is another manufacturer that provides trucks for various applications, including waste collection. The Scania P Series trucks are popular in the UK for waste management tasks.
Iveco Eurocargo: Iveco's Eurocargo model is used in waste collection fleets in the UK. Iveco trucks are recognised for their versatility and fuel efficiency.
Dennis: Alexander Dennis Limited, commonly known as Dennis, manufactures waste collection vehicles used in the UK. Their vehicles are known for innovation and adherence to environmental standards.
Many of your household waste can be collected in a Bin Lorry. Be this:
Items like Electronics, Batteries, E-Cigs etc are frowned upon as if this is thrown in and the arm inside the truck pushes it all to the back, it could cause an explosion or spark which could set alight all of the rubbish inside the lorry.
Bin lorries, just like any other vehicles, can have an environmental impact with their shenanigans. The environment feels the impact of factors like fuel type, vehicle upkeep, and how they dispose of their garbage.
Here's the lowdown on the environmental chaos caused by bin lorries:
Emissions: These lorries, especially the ones running on diesel, spew out stuff like nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. This air pollution isn't good for us or the planet. Some lorries that run on electricity or other fuels can be better for the air.
Noise Pollution: Bin lorries can be loud, especially when they're picking up glass in your neighbourhood. Electric lorries are a bit quieter, so they won't wake you up!
Fuel Consumption: Some lorries spit out more gas then your Grandad at Xmas dinner. Meaning a lot of it. The more fuel a lorries uses, the more pollution they make. Newer lorries and using alternative eco friendly fuels can help with this.
Waste Disposal: Where the waste goes matters. If waste is primarily sent to landfill without recycling efforts, it can result in soil and water pollution. Lorries involved in recycling collection contribute to a more sustainable waste management system.
Alternative Fuels and Electric Vehicles: Adopting alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or transitioning to electric lorries can significantly reduce the environmental impact by lowering emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
Efficient Routing: Using technology to figure out the best trick to collecting your waste efficiently can be better for the environment. Route optimisation technology figures out the best way of getting you from A to B.
Yes, you can & a lot of waste companies will be looking to add these to their fleet eventually.
At Busy Bins, we've been looking to introduce electric bin lorries for a couple of years now, especially as we are working towards reducing our carbon footprint.
The only issue at the moment with electric bin lorries is that they are very, very expensive and we do feel like they're not quite ready. But one day...
It is imperative that bin lorries are well maintained and cleaned.
Not just to make it look beautiful and shiny, but, because bin lorries need to be maintained and checked more regularly then cars to make sure that they are in top working order and that any faults are fixed right away:
Below are some ways in which bin lorries are usually maintained and cleaned...
Cleaning:
So, you may think its as simple as getting the bucket and sponge out and giving it a slap of wetness but there are many different bits that need checking and maintaining to make sure that the lorry works in tip top order.
You may think every wagon is the same, but you would be amazed at how many different vehicle types, sizes and shapes that are out there!
Vehicle sizes do differ and you can get smaller or bigger trucks. Trucks are always named in Tonnes, all that this means is, the total weight of the vehicle and it's load once filled.
For instance, if it is a 26 tonne, once filled the vehicle should weigh up to 26 Tonne (You will get in trouble by DVSA if you go over this weight), a vehicle this size can hold roughly 12 tonnes of waste etc... this is mainly used when dropping off waste at a recycling plant or landfill.
You may think that Bin Lorries are stuck in the 20th century, however companies are working day in day out to create more efficient and faster ways of working safely:
Automated Bin Collection Systems: This reduces the amount of workers needed but in our eyes, until the system can fully run without the hitches we have seen with waste scattered everywhere and fire risks, it is still more efficient to use manual workers to collect and empty.
Sensor Technology for Waste Monitoring: Think FitBit but for your bin. This data can help optimise collection routes and let the workers know when bins need emptying, reducing fuel consumption and increasing efficiency.
Alternative Fuels: The use of alternative fuels, such as compressed natural gas (CNG) or bio-methane, is being explored in bin lorry technology to reduce the environmental impact of waste collection operations.
Solar-Powered Systems: Some bin lorries are integrating solar panels onto the roof to harness solar energy. We might have trouble with this in gloomy Manchester though!
Predictive Maintenance Systems: Predictive maintenance systems can hep utilise data analytics and sensors to anticipate when components of a bin lorry might fail. This allows for proactive maintenance, reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of the vehicle.
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: The adoption of electric and hybrid bin lorries is increasing in the UK to reduce emissions and noise pollution, especially in urban areas. Electric bin lorries offer potential environmental benefits and align with sustainability goals.
There are plenty of safety measures in place around bin lorries. These are in place to help protect the workers and members of the public.
Here are the main safety measures:
Lorry Visibility: Even though these bin lorries are big and mighty, they still need to be spotted in those early mornings and late nights. This is why you stick the Hi-Vis on them. Reflective paint & stickers are used to make the lorry stand out more. These markings can be found on the body of the truck or at the front.
Reversing Alarms: Don't act like you have never been in bed and cursed when you heard this at 6am. Bin lorries are typically fitted with audible reversing alarms to alert pedestrians and nearby vehicles when the vehicle is moving backward.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): It isn't just the lorries that need to be seen. The operators will wear appropriate PPE, such as high-visibility clothing, gloves, and sometimes helmets, to enhance their safety.
CCTV Cameras: Bin lorries are equipped with CCTV cameras for better visibility for the driver around the vehicle, helping to prevent accidents.
Communication Systems: Waste collection personnel may use communication systems, such as radios, to stay in contact with each other and the driver to coordinate their activities.
Regular Vehicle Maintenance: Keeping the trucks cleaned and well maintained is crucial to ensure that all the safety features such as lights, alarms, cameras etc...work.
As you now know, UK Bin Lorries come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Us at BusyBins started our journey with just a little caged van and side tipper. Now we have 6 different bin lorries patrolling the roads.
A standard sized UK Bin Lorry is usually 26 tonnes. This will be the same as most of the bin trucks that you see on the roads.
All you have to do is picture how much you are currently paying to fill the tank in your car? Now picture having a tank 4 times the size!
These machines are serious guzzlers. It must be thirsty work though going round devouring homeowners rubbish all day.
On average, it costs around £20,000 per year to fill the tank in a Bin Lorry. That is more then some people earn & really shows the cost of running a bin lorry.
Just think, this is £20,000 per year not taking into consideration: Maintenance, Driver wages, Insurance!
Purchasing a bin lorry to become one of the waste collectors is very similar to buying a normal everyday car. The only difference is you won't be able to purchase a bin lorry from Cinch!
You can buy a bin lorry from places such as:
Try plugging this one Rylan
You may think they are...but in general bin lorries are not allowed to block the road BUT...sometimes with the awkward position of the bin or where the dumpster is located, this can cause a bin lorry to temporarily block the road.
As these bin lorries are large vehicles and their main role is making sure your waste is collected, they are going to have to stop and block the road from time to time.
Don't sweat, don't get angry, just realise that they are doing a job.
We ensure you that they aren't doing it on purpose to make you 5 mins late to your yoga.
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