Cameras keep watch on waste trucks

Plymouth's waste collection vehicles now have cameras installed as part of the Council's ongoing programme to improve its waste and recycling service.

Four-way cameras have been fitted to the vehicles following a 12-month trial and are designed to protect the drivers and the Council from bogus insurance claims. During the trial, the number of accidents and damage to vehicles dropped.

The system will be used to help the Council investigate accidents, near misses and aggressive behaviour from the public, further reducing future accidents and costs to the council.

In the two years before the trial cameras were installed, there were 92 and 96 claims respectively. In 2012 to 2013, during the trial, this dropped to 72. This financial year the trend continues downward with 65 claims.

The information from the system will assist with reviewing the rounds to make them more efficient. The benefits will be reduced mileage, saving in fuel, tyres and vehicle maintenance.

Councillor Brian Vincent Cabinet member for the Environment said: "A lot of preparation work is going on behind the scene to make our service more efficient.

"We have a number of changes on the cards for our city's waste and recycling collections, with collection days being changed for some residents as part of this. We also need to invest in our staff and our fleet to make sure they run effectively."

The camera system will help the staff look at the existing routes as part of the Council's programme of improvement work to make sure the workloads and rounds are even, that the routes used are the shortest and most cost effective as well as providing evidence when assessing health and safety and access issues.

The first of the council's major changes to service will begin from 1 May when glass bottles and jars can be collected in recycling bins and bags from all homes across the city.