Oxford City Council recently identified a need for a waste collection bin cleaning service (container washer service) to clean bins at their housing association properties in and around Oxford. An internal business case was prepared for evaluation and in doing so it was identified that additional revenue may be achieved by offering a container washing service to their existing trade waste customer base. A survey of their existing trade waste customers, aimed at establishing if this was of interest, resulted in a resounding yes. Interestingly, since then, non Oxford City Council trade waste customers have asked for quotations to clean their containers. This may lead to additional revenue streams for Oxford City Council for both the container washer business and also has the potential to increase their trade waste collection services to wider markets.
The choice of equipment to satisfy the need was established after Oxford City Council released a competitive tender for the supply of a 7.5t GVW Container Washer Vehicle. After a full and robust evaluation the contract was awarded for the supply of a Heil Farid Mini Container mounted to a 7.5t GVW Mitsubishi Canter chassis with a 2800mm wheelbase supplied by Euro Commercials (South Wales) Limited, Cardiff.
The Heil Farid Mini Container Washer, operated via a gearbox PTO features a stainless steel tank divided into two sections: clean and dirty water with a watertight stainless steel washing chamber. As standard it is fitted with a stainless steel bin/container lifting device which can handle a full range of containers from 120 litre up to 1100 litre thus enabling washing of 2 x 120-240 litre containers or 1 x 1100 litre container at one time.
Washing of containers is completed in a fully enclosed washing chamber operated from a control panel mounted on the nearside of the equipment. The operator is able to select from a range of settings such as hot or cold wash, internal and external container wash or internal container wash only, all with variable time settings. The internal washing system, powered by high pressure piston pumps, features two roto-oscillating washing heads to clean inside the container and fixed stainless steel racks with spray jet nozzles to clean the outside of the containers.
The vehicle also features a high pressure spray lance with a 15 metre hose reel for additional cleaning options.
Martyn Buckley, Oxford City Council Commercial Manager commented: “A bin washing service is something many customers have requested. Previously we would have needed to recover bins to our site to clean. This new vehicle enables us to wash bins on site with a fully enclosed service; it will improve the experience of customers, crews and general appearance around Oxford. It will be especially useful for our food waste recycling service.”
