For those of you that operate waste collection services, it has been custom and practice for many years to secure transfer bins onto RCV lifts, clamping them into position for transportation. However, changes to legislation earlier this year could put a stop to this practice for those operators using standalone food waste collection vehicles.
It has been brought to LARAC's attention in recent weeks, that changes to transport legislation (originating in the EU in March 2024) are affecting the design of new food waste collection vehicles because of the requirement to enforce speed restrictions on vehicles that have bin lifts in the raised/engaged position whilst in motion.
We are led to believe that top-loading food waste vehicles (specifically 12t food waste vehicles loaded from the rear) are the wrong length because the bin is kicked out and over the vehicle body as part of the tipping process. It appears this also obscures the visibility of rear light clusters when viewed from behind, resulting in a speed restriction being applied in the region of 6mph. This means transfer bins must be stored on their side within a compartment behind the cab, to travel over this speed. This also creates a manual handling risk and increases the chance of liquids escaping onto operatives when bins are lifted into the compartment.
The changes do not appear to be retrospective, applying to new vehicles only. We are aware of manufacturers investigating alternate solutions, which would still allow the transfer bin to be clamped to the bin lift during transit. These include adapting compartments or cages to house transfer bins on longer distances, and the installation of repeaters on the rear light clusters.
Currently, the compartment behind the cab of a standalone food waste vehicle is not large enough to accommodate a 240ltr bin. That said, the use of 140ltr bins would also not allow sufficient ground clearance whilst engaged on the bin lift. Therefore, an alternative proposal could include the use of smaller, 120ltr transfer bins, stored upright to mitigate against manual handling injury and food waste or liquid spilling onto operatives.
LARAC is still seeking clarification on the detail, and we will provide further updates in due course. In the interim, I’m concerned that crews may seek alternative solutions to overcome the speed restrictor, including the placement of bins in the hopper for longer travel distances, but there is a risk that bins can bounce out when the vehicle is in motion and cause injury when bins are retrieved from the hopper. Therefore, it might be that the solution behind the cab is more appropriate given it is actually a manufacturer designed solution.
Watch this space!
