Newspaper Article 1992 – New-look rubbish truck

New-look rubbish truck

The new rubbish trucks that appear on Hastings city streets next month will be able to carry up to twice as much as those in use now, district council technical services engineer Neal Absalom said today.

The trucks will be about the same size as council rubbish trucks, but have a mechanism in the enclosed Carrying compartment that will compress the rubbish as it is thrown in.

The high-sided council trucks can carry three tonnes. The Waste Management New Zealand trucks can Carry five to six tonnes.

Waste Management has won the contract to collect Hastings and Havelock North domestic rubbish for the next five years, starting August 1.

The company will put three of the new-style trucks on the job, each Operated by only one person instead of the three needed for council collection trucks.

The trucks have a conventional driving position on the right hand side of the cab, used to get to and from the collection area, While householder’s rubbish bags are being picked up from the kerbside, the driver will Operate the truck from a standing position on the left-hand side, which has a steering wheel and a foot pedal.

The truck is locked in low gear when control is transferred to the left side. When the foot pedal is pressed down, the truck moves forward, and when it is released, the brakes go on.

The driver stops at each property, picks up the rubbish bags, and throws them into the back of the truck immediately behind the cab.

A paddle moving from side to side in the back compresses the bags.

When it is full, the track will driven to the transfer station and emptied.

District residents will still use the paper rubbish delivered each year by the council, although the council might decide at some stage to leave bag purchases up to individuals, Mr Absalom said,

The new-style rubbish truck which is due on the streets next month.