Smart waste collection vehicle an Australian first

Thursday, 15 October 2020

Penrith City Council in collaboration with SUEZ, Stillwell Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Trucks have launched Australia’s first smart waste collection vehicle. The vehicle is unique due to its innovative steerable rear axle, which allows the large vehicle to operate within the specifications of a more manoeuvrable small collection vehicle.  

As cities grow and density within city centres change, the demands on essential services need to adapt to the built environment. Penrith City Council has long been a leader in waste services and in true Penrith style, this innovative reimagining of the traditional garbage truck continues that legacy. 

Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM said the smart waste collection vehicle supports planning and urban design principles and the way we live. 

“The streamlined vehicle comes with less height restrictions, it’s better at navigating basement ramps and is easier to manoeuvre – making it perfect for higher density living,” Cr McKeown said. 

“As well as being Mayor of Penrith, I’m one of Council’s sustainability champions and I cannot overstate the role Waste Services plays in making our city a sustainable and attractive place to live. 

“Our innovative approach to waste is far reaching and I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this project, it’s just one more example of why Penrith is such a great place to live, work and visit. 

“I’d like to thank and congratulate the teams at SUEZ, Stillwell Trucks and Mercedes-Benz Trucks who worked with us to design and develop the smart waste collection vehicle,” Cr McKeown said. 

The adoption of industry-leading technology and collaboration between public and private sector supports the integration of innovative on-site waste collection infrastructure.  The introduction of the smart waste collection vehicle supports the maintenance of amenity and eliminates potentially dangerous kerbside pickups in built up areas. 

The vehicle’s industry-leading benefits include:   

• Hydraulic steerable rear axle which reduces the turning circle by 4 metres 
• Emergency Brake Assist and Pedestrian Detection which is active under 50kph. EBS (Electronic Brake) brake system which incorporates ABS(anti-lock braking system), ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) and roll stability control, plus disc brakes on all axles for improved stopping power 
• Lane Guard -sounds an audible noise if you go outside your lane 
• Euro 6 emission level – meets and exceeds current Australian ADR 80/03 Emission standards. 
• reduced operation height clearances from 4.5m to 3.5m within buildings  
• reduced maximum ramp gradients from 6.25% in 7m of travel to 8.3% in 4m of travel within basement ramps  
• reduced swept path models from 22.5m to 17m to facilitate on-site collection and manoeuvring in narrow spaces. 

Photo caption – PCCSmartWasteVehicle_2: (L to R) General Manager Stillwell Trucks Mark Reynolds, SUEZ Collections Residential Manager Mark Muttdon, Sales Manager Mercedes-Benz Stillwell Trucks Shane Boag and Penrith Mayor Karen McKeown OAM cut the ribbon for the new smart waste collection vehicle.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Thursday, 15 October 2020.