In this upload we’re moving away from your conventional loud, heavy duty, compacting collection truck. This time we’re visiting an old school method of recycling collection which continues to run strong in Armidale. The set-up used involves two crates, one of which is used for paper and cardboard, with the second used for bottles and containers. Both of these crates are collected weekly from every property in the council, by using trucks built with separate compartments for each material stream. These trucks unload at the waste management centre on the outskirts of the regional city, which houses the MRF run by the local collection and processing contractor, Armidale Recycling Services.
The crate recycling system is close to extinct in Australia, but this council may be the one which stops the system from becoming defunct. Armidale has received criticism over their reluctance to convert to the co-mingled wheelie bin service, which is now considered national best practice. However, the council’s irrefutable argument is the substantial increase in material quality and substantial decrease in contamination. The guys collecting the recycling can easily identify and remove/reject incorrect items at the kerb, plus you’ve got uncompacted materials which are easier to sort and the problems of glass and liquids polluting the paper stream are basically eliminated. In addition, I’ll note there is no restriction on how much can be placed out, as residents are allowed to present an unlimited number of crates. The only significant argument against this system is the OH&S issues related to the manual work, but any injury risks dwindle with careful working and sensibility.
This video also features two of the three vehicles previously used to collect the recycling in the council. The third truck not shown is identical to the first truck which makes an appearance in the video, which I figure were the two original Isuzu units rolled out when recycling was introduced. The other truck in the video may already be familiar, as it appeared as the recycling truck in one of my Guyra videos. This other Isuzu was one of the trucks run by JR Richards in the previous Tamworth contract, where crates were also once utilised. I guess this ex-Richards machine made for a handy extra in Armidale due to increasing services. Although back in 2012 Armidale Recycling Services deployed three brand new Hinos with custom made bodies for the pick-ups, which I’m also yet to see anything of!
I really respect the decisions by Armidale and Guyra to be different by not following industry trend. They went down a path focusing on quality and contamination issues. I also doubt this system is more expensive, you don’t need to worry about all the breakdowns associated with the average compactor, collections are still worked efficiently and productively, then another pro is local employment doesn’t become a sacrifice. Thanks to the two teams who were providing the service to Ben Venue residents on a Friday morning. I hope my viewers appreciate and enjoy this different collection arrangement. I still remember going to Armidale for the first time and not knowing what to expect... this local effort was no disappointment.