Binning the noisy lorries

And it could make the sight of the neighbours dashing out in their dressing gowns a thing of the past too.

Bassetlaw Council has invested in a new type of refuse lorry with a quieter low voltage electric bin lift.

The engine doesn’t have to be revving to operate it, as it does with the old-style hydraulic lift, meaning bins can be emptied much more quietly.

The OmniDEL lift is made by Worksop company Terberg Matec UK, based at High Grounds Industrial Estate.

Bassetlaw refuse vehicle fleet manager Peter Jones said: “We just have one at the moment but will be looking to change all our lorries over as they need replacing.”

“We’ve been trialling this one around Harworth, Worksop and Retford, and the lads really like it because it’s quieter and a bit quicker.”

“It also has a GPS system so we can track where it is and plot a different route if there’s a problem anywhere.”

Bin rounds start at 6am so a noisy wake-up call has been a feature of life for most householders for years.

The new £150,000 Dennis Eagle Olympus lorries are £4,000 more expensive than the old-style lorries but the extra cost is made up for by increased fuel efficiency, said Peter.

He said: “It’s quieter because, unlike the conventional diesel hydraulic lifts which need the engine revs to increase hydraulic flow to the lift, the electric version operates using only the battery power of the truck.”

The lorry still runs on diesel but Sheldon Hall, from Terberg, explained: “Because the lift relies on electrical power alone, it offers significant savings in fuel consumption and in CO2 emissions.”

“For a typical collection of 1,200 lifts a day, Terberg estimates that it will save between ten and 14 per cent for the whole vehicle, which will be a saving of about £2,000 a year.”

“It can also be repaired on the road, you would just need to put new batteries in, so there is reduced maintenance and increased reliability. There are fewer moving parts and so less to go wrong.”

Terberg employs 100 people in Worksop and has been selling the new lift all over the world.

It has already won an award as the Waste Management Product of the Year in this year’s prestigious Plant and Waste Recycling Show awards.

Sheldon and Bob Doust, Terberg’s sales director, received the trophy from boxing champ John Conteh.

Sheldon said: “The award is testament to the efforts of our research and development team, everyone involved in field trials and those responsible for developing the awareness and interest in the OmniDEL.”

The new bin lorry is being bought through the Nottingham joint procurement contract, which includes county as well as district council.

Coun Julie Leigh, portfolio holder for the environment and leisure, welcomed the new bin lorry.