Dave Thomas, recycling2go coordinator at Rushcliffe Borough Council, explains how the system works:

“Rushcliffe operates an alternate week, three-bin recycling service and all bins are fitted with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag which identifies which bin belongs to which household. We know exactly which bins have been emptied and we can also target areas where bins are not being put out frequently. This means we can direct our communications messages to the right customers to persuade them to change their recycling behaviour and attitudes. The information also helps us deal with customer queries efficiently and we can also use the management data to find out where customers are putting their bins out too late, areas where there are problems with contaminated bins or bins are too full, or whether refuse collectors have missed bins.”

“Rushcliffe has the second highest recycling/composting rate in the country and this new technology means we can use this information to find out those areas which are not recycling as frequently, so we can encourage them to adopt an even greener lifestyle.”

As the RCV lifts each wheeled bin it scans the RFID tag fitted under the rim using a scanner mounted on the lift arm. This then simultaneously updates both the on-board database for each address in the cab computer as well as the central database which is accessible by computers at the refuse office and customer contact centre.

Information and audit trails are central to the system, allowing Council staff to immediately understand and justify their actions.  The crew can record deliberate missed collections where, for example, the bin was contaminated or inaccessible or occasions where bins are lost into the compactor.  As the round progresses there’s a complete picture of which bins were emptied, which not emptied and any which were missed by accident.  With this information and the history of the customer’s collections and with live data on the crew’s location, management can decide on the spot whether the crew should return to collect the missed bins.  All information can be shared immediately with managers and field-based inspectors as the system sends SMS messages to their hand-held computers or mobiles.

The system directly links into the customer service centre in near-real-time so when a resident phones in with any enquiry all event information will be readily available without an extensive investigation trail back to the depot and / or vehicle.

“It’s all about linking up different technologies and thereby connecting the team” says Tim Hobbs, Director of Bartec Systems. “By using the touch-screen, the crew can rapidly record reasons for failed collections. And by using GPRS, (General Packet Radio Service - a mobile data service) instant two-way communications are assured between head office and the RCV.”