The Skip Magazine

Worcestershire’s household rubbish could be transformed into a useful eco-fuel, if plans for a revolutionary £35 million waste processing plant go ahead.

Plans to construct the plant on a site at Hartlebury, near Kidderminster, are under consideration by Worcestershire County Council and its private waste contractor, Mercia Waste Management.

At present the council’s plans include a new plant for dealing with recyclable waste, which is due to open at Norton, near Worcester, next year. However, under these plans, all non-recyclable rubbish will still go straight to landfill.

Estech Europe is the waste company offering an alternative solution. They have been involved in negotiations with Worcestershire Council and Mercia Waste over the possibility of building a hi-tech Fibrecycle plant at Hartlebury.

The waste company are proposing to use technology that puts non-recyclable waste through a process called steam autoclaving, sterilising it with high-pressure steam and transforming it into a fibrous pulp.

Estech Europe claims that this pulp can then be used as a clean, renewable energy source, or put to other uses such as making paper. It says its solution would cut the amount of waste Worcestershire sends to landfill by as much as 80 per cent.
Managing director of Estech, Jonathan Allen said,

"We are in discussions with Mercia Waste Management. We would like to build a plant but first we have to conclude a deal with Mercia. We would like to get the negotiations completed during the summer and then start (building) on the ground in the autumn, but we have to be patient."

The company already has the planning permission to build the plant and says it would be able to deal with more than 100,000 tonnes of black bin waste each year.

Mercia Waste Management, which is paid by the council to dispose of the county's waste, is demanding strong evidence that what it sees as unproven technology is the best long-term solution.

Mercia director Javier Periero said,

"We are looking at all the options. We have asked Estech to prove the things they say they can achieve, and we're waiting for some of the details. But there are other options."
The county has long wanted to build an incinerator to burn its non-recyclable waste, although in 2002 opposition from local residents stopped a plant being built near Kidderminster.

Earlier this year, the council's Tory leader George Lord said he was in favour of an incinerator somewhere in the two counties.

They say that for every winner, there has to be a loser. On one side of the coin, we have the discovery of a £40,000 table in a skip and, on the other, we have Chris Evans accidentally throwing out some very valuable artwork. Sorry, Chris, but on this occasion you’re definitely a loser.

The Radio Two DJ was packing his art collection into boxes during a recent house move when the terrible error occurred. He had decided to throw out some of his paintings, so put them in separate boxes, intended to go to a local charity shop.

However, Evans said that his ‘handy man’ had made a mix up with the boxes which led to the Damien Hirst painting being discarded.

He now believes that the work – one of Hirst’s classic dot paintings – is lying in a charity shop somewhere waiting to be snapped up at a bargain price. A similar painting by Hirst was sold at auction for £240,000 last year!

Chris Evans, 42, said “I had no idea I'd done it. We've been clearing out the house.”
He also said that he’d made a hurried effort to trace the whereabouts of the painting and buy it back. He didn’t seem to be too bothered about the whole episode, though, as he told the story in fits of laughter on his drive-time radio show.

It’s certainly not the first time art has been mistakenly discarded – last year a sculpture by Turner Prize artist, Anish Kapoor, valued at £350,000, was shockingly dumped in a skip by builders whilst in the care of a London fine arts storage company!

A piece of ‘art’ masquerading as a bag of rubbish was also thrown into a hire skip by a cleaner at The Tate Gallery a few years back.

The lost Hirst painting is now thought to be in a charity shop somewhere in Cranleigh or Godalming, Surrey. So if you’re feeling lucky it might just be worth a browse…

An antique table rescued from a skip in Welshpool, Powys, has sold at auction for £40,000!

The table was pulled from the hire skip after being dumped during a house clearance. To the untrained eye, it could easily be passed over as just another cheap example of replica Edwardian furniture. But when Jeremy Lamond, Fine Art Director at Halls Auctioneers, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, spotted it, “My heart skipped a beat,” he said – hilariously.

Instantly recognising the brass fittings on the table, Mr Lamond named it as a very rare example of work produced by 19th century architect Edward William Godwin.

Once underway, the auction was contested by three telephone bidders. Eventually, it sold to a specialist dealer in London. The family who had tried to dispose of the table are said to be delighted with the price it sold for. As is Mr Lamond, “In terms of significant discoveries during my career, this table has got to be right up there in the top 10 because it is so rare.”

Indeed, so unusual is this piece that the only other examples of its type are to be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Trust's Ellen Terry Memorial Museum at Smallhythe Place, Kent.

When asked about dumping antiques, Mr Lamond said, “People have nothing to lose and everything to gain from getting a professional valuation.”

So take heed. Check those skips before you consign them to the landfill. If you bury £40,000 worth of rare walnut loveliness, you’ve only got yourself to blame.

In today’s era of landfill charges and LATs reporting, the weighbridge is at the heart of
a waste organisation’s data collection. Downtime can bring an operation to a halt so an effective preventative maintenance programme is vital says Chris Thorpe, service manager for Avery Weigh-Tronix.

Weighbridges are precision weighing instruments designed to meet stringent weights and measures regulations while operating in extremely harsh environments.

Collecting and reporting waste data is essential for waste disposal authorities, transfer stations and landfill operators. In modern waste management the weighbridge is like a cash register for an organisation. Landfill charges, waste sorting & recycling transactions and landfill taxes all need accurate data.

Indeed, with charges set to increase by 100% over the next three years for active waste going to landfill, it pays to recycle and importantly measure or weigh the different categories of waste. With the weighbridge and its software at the heart of this reporting regime, it is essential that it remains operational and also reports weight data accurately.

Having the right service and maintenance agreement in place is essential, but there is much that weighbridge operators can do to ensure that equipment stays reliable. Perhaps the first thing is to be aware of the most common causes of damage or failure.

For example, if the load cell or weighbar is left in water or even in very damp conditions it can fail prematurely. This is one of the most common causes of inaccurate weighing and leads to rejection by trading standards officers.

Second, “shock loading” can cause excessive movement of the weighbridge platform damaging the structure. This can be due to the heavy braking of a vehicle, impact damage caused by a loading shovel or by heavy loads dropped directly onto the weighbridge or into a vehicle positioned on it.

Another common problem is electrical disruption, including mains borne interference through the weighbridge indicator supply or a lightning strike, either directly or via dissipation when the surrounding ground becomes electrically charged. Modern weighbridge designs generally incorporate protection against lightning, but it is important to check the weighbridge for damage after any thunderstorm.

So, assuming you already have a maintenance contract in place, what else can an operator do to help keep the weighbridge operational and legally compliant?

The answer lies in housekeeping and good practice, with daily, weekly, monthly and twice yearly tasks. These simple tasks are important as accumulation of dirt, debris, water or slurry will affect the integrity of the weighbridge. In the short term this will lead to inaccurate weighing and, if allowed to continue, the load cells or weigh bars will fail, making the weighbridge unusable.

On a daily basis, for example, it is best practice to visually inspect the platform to ensure it is free from debris. Check that the side and end frames are not fouled. Next ensure that the digital display reads zero before the vehicle drives onto the platform.

Make sure that vehicles approach the platform slowly and avoid sudden braking and for an accurate weight reading ensure that all of its wheels are on the weighbridge.

For pit-mounted installations where T section rubber is fitted, check it is located correctly and that any pit drainage system and/or automatic pumps are working correctly. For surface mounted weighbridges make sure there is clearance between the superstructure and the ground .

Weekly tasks involve carefully checking the load cell assemblies for debris build up, which should be removed carefully without damaging the load cell cables.

You should also carry out a weekly weigh check using a loaded vehicle. Compare the vehicle’s weight when it is weighed at each end of the weighbridge and in the centre of the platform. If discrepancies of ± 2 indicated divisions are found then it should be reported.

In the example below, the weight is displayed in 20kg increments. At 25980Kg the weight is acceptable at -1 indicated division, but at 26060kg at the front end of the platform it is unacceptable with +3 indicated divisions.

For a pit-mounted weighbridge, check the pit monthly for possible “ponding” of water, debris build up or other damage to the leading edge of foundations, and the side and end frames of the platform. If the platform has moved excessively since the last inspection, then report it to your maintenance service provider.

You should also repeat the end-middle-end test as detailed in the weekly tasks and record the readings. After doing this jet wash the weighbridge to remove any loose debris and any material beneath the platform, taking care to avoid the load cells or weighbars. Rebalance, or zero, the weighbridge and repeat the end-middle-end test noting the readings. Compare these before and after results and report any discrepancies.

Finally, once every six months you should check the weighbridge for any signs of structural damage. For example, inspect the foundations for any significant movement or cracks and report any signs to your maintenance service provider. For surface mounted weighbridges visually check the load cell cables and again report any damage.

Never electrically weld on the weighbridge structure without consulting your service provider as this can seriously damage your loadcells or weighbars.

Also if the weighbridge needs cleaning out then you must take into account that waste can produce methane and other dangerous gases. For pit mounted weighbridges, you must ensure that suitably certified gas detectors are used in compliance with the Confined Space, Health and Safety legislation, both before and during such work.

With proper care your weighbridge will give longer trouble free operation in between planned maintenance visits. But remember not to get carried away by ‘DIY service’. Do not attempt to carry out detailed repair or maintenance work as this may affect its operation and contravene Weights and Measures regulations.

This is where a planned maintenance contract is essential, taking into account the way a weighbridge is used and its frequency of use, as this will vary from one organisation
to another. Maintenance contracts can be flexible to meet your needs. Avery Weigh Tronix often finds that a basic package is fine for a new weighbridge in its first year, with extra cover added progressively as the equipment ages.

A basic package will typically only include a scheduled preventative maintenance visit or visits – ranging from monthly to annual visits. Additional features can include emergency cover for breakdowns, labour costs for repairs, parts and even replacement of load cells or weighbars.

If replacement parts are fitted, you may need to get the weighbridge re-verified to ensure it meets weights and measures legislation – check whether your service supplier can do this for you as not all service and repair companies have the necessary skills, tools and experience.

To meet your due diligence obligations you should also have your weighbridge calibrated regularly – at least once a year. Again your maintenance service provider should be trained and qualified to offer this service.

If the worst should happen you should also check your contract for response times. Even in the remotest regions of the UK, an eight hour response time is achievable and much shorter response times are available for critical operations.

In summary your weighbridge is one of the most important elements of your business. Without it operating properly, you risk mis-measurement. Even worse, if the problems build up and the weighbridge becomes inoperable it could slow or even close down your operation.

Finally there is the nightmare scenario, of non-compliance with Weights & Measures and the risk of legal action by Trading Standards with all the damage to your reputation, to say nothing of the direct financial losses.

Even though your weighbridge looks a simple, robust, heavy duty piece of kit that can ‘look after itself’, a few minutes spent on basic housekeeping each day, an hour each week and a couple of hours each month, will make all the difference to its reliable, trouble free operation.

The use of new technology, called Viper, means that VOSA is cracking down on overloaded vehicles. It is time for the waste industry to take action, but to do so they need accurate and reliable solutions argues Chris McAllister, market manager for Avery Weigh-Tronix’s waste division.

VOSA states that overloading continues to be one of the most frequent offences for HGVs, ranking alongside tachograph and drivers’ hours offences. It is a serious health and safety issue because it increases braking distances in an emergency and makes the vehicle more difficult to control. None of us want to be associated with the consequences of a serious road traffic accident.

Overloaded vehicles also cause extra wear and tear on the road network and VOSA is taking the issue very seriously.

According to the Road Traffic Act, overloading your vehicle is an absolute offence. This means that an offence is committed even where the driver or operator had no knowledge of the overloading. Beware if someone else loads the vehicle, as the consignor can and often does state the weight incorrectly. Wherever possible get the consignor to confirm the cargo weight in writing and make sure that this information is printed on the weight bill as this can be used as evidence in mitigation.

If your vehicle is stopped and directed to a weighing site and is then found to be overweight, the driver and any other person who permits the use of the vehicle may be liable for prosecution.

In addition the authorised officer will issue a prohibition notice making it illegal for the vehicle to travel on the road. This notice must be cleared in writing before the vehicle can proceed and it is up to you to meet the costs of offloading excess weight safely.

The penalties for overloading can be severe. There is a maximum fine of £5,000 per offence i.e. per axle, per gross and per train overload and you can also have your licence disqualified. Convictions can also affect the decision of the traffic commissioner to suspend revoke or renew an HGV driver’s licence.

In practice there are two statutory defences. First it must be shown that the vehicle was proceeding to the nearest available weighbridge or was proceeding from the weighbridge to the nearest suitable offloading point. The second defence is that the vehicle was loaded to within its legal limits and that the weight had increased in transit by no more than 5 percent and nothing had been added to the vehicle since it was first loaded.

In the past enforcement may have been an issue. The only solution was to have random checks at fixed sites with police officers stopping vehicles. Once word got out, many vehicles could easily avoid inspection sites. In 2003/04 for instance VOSA weighed 41,731 UK and foreign vehicles with a prohibition rate of 7.84%.

Beware the Viper

Now, however, VOSA is using new technology and has new powers to make enforcement more effective.

In 2004 it gained the power to stop vehicles itself, following accreditation from chief officers. The police have now trained a number of VOSA staff who can operate in specially marked cars. Since that time there have been significant increases in the number of vehicles stopped and prohibitions issued.

More recently the organisation has started using a combination of weighing in motion sensors and automatic number plate recognition called VIPER. In-road piezoelectric strips measure a vehicle’s weight and each individual axle to a margin of better than 5% and cameras record the number plates of any overloaded vehicles. The system will identify the type of vehicle and, if it is overweight, will record its number plate and other details. Such targeting reduces the need to stop law-abiding drivers, but increases the chance of those that are inadvertently overloaded being caught.

A recent pilot study recorded a 700% increase in identifying and prohibiting overweight vehicles. In this study the system identified 434 vehicles as being overweight. These vehicles were stopped and 379 were found to be actually overweight. A total of 344 weight prohibition notices were issued. Since then road checks between February and April were 100% effective and only non-compliant operators were stopped.

Such was its success that VIPER has won the Intelligent Transport Society’s technology award for excellence. There are now four sites operating with another 10 to be added by April 2008. Negotiations are ongoing for further sites.

Weighing up a solution

So it is no longer good enough to estimate the weight of your vehicle or, if a third party is loading it, accept their word that it is within legal limits. It has always been the responsibility of the operator and/or driver. Some may have been tempted to gamble in the past, but the chances are that they will now be caught.

Equally with fuel prices increasing and margins tight, you do not want to err too much on the side of caution and significantly underload your vehicle.

Potentially there are several proven solutions. One, of course, is to visit a weighbridge, but this is not always convenient.

For most, the best option is to install On Board Weighing. You can then monitor and check the load yourself. In theory this is the ideal answer, but unfortunately some systems have in the past been unreliable.

The good news is that the technology is getting better and there are now more reliable and accurate systems on the market.

So if you are specifying on board weighing what should you ask the supplier?

Chris Hodge of Commercial Motor magazine has some recommendations. He suggests asking: “Can it be tailored to suit an individual vehicle or operation? Can it be transferred from one truck to another? Is it accurate to within 50kg? Is it simple to operate? Is it robust and reliable? Does the system come with a tailor made warranty? Is it quick and easy to install? Does the system come with a nationwide aftersales and service backup?”

He finishes off the list by questioning whether the system allows your drivers to load safely and if it helps ensure that you’re not losing money by underloading.

I would add to this list and suggest that you ask for references and proof points. For example, how many technicians are in my local area? How quickly can they get to me – time off the road is money lost. And can simple repairs be done at the roadside?

One recent advance that makes such systems inherently more reliable is the introduction of digital load cell technology. This is not new technology for weighbridges and other applications, but it is new for On Board Weighing.

Using digital load cells halves the number of wires in the chassis cable from four to two. It also reduces the amount of cable needed, eliminates any need for a junction box and minimises the number of chassis cable contacts. Quite simply there is less to go wrong.

In addition, reliability is better because the temporary presence of moisture in the connectors will not affect digital data transmission. In an analogue system this would stop it working.

Will all of this make overloaded vehicles a thing of the past? Probably not, but new technology means that VOSA will catch more of those who transgress and genuine errors are not a defence in law. So beware the VIPER and make the most of current technology to help you stay legal while also maximising your load for efficiency. It’s a delicate balancing act, but one that you have to get right.

A major magnetic equipment manufacturer has successfully solved numerous Aluminium Recycling problems world wide. Master Magnets Ltd is a world leader in the field of Metal Separation applications, they are now willing to share the secrets behind their success.

The recycling of aluminum generally produces significant cost savings over the production of new aluminum even when the cost of collection, separation and recycling are taken into account. Over the long term, even larger national savings are made when the reduction in the capital costs associated with landfills, mines and international shipping of raw aluminium are considered.

The environmental benefits of recycling aluminium are also enormous. Only around 5% of the CO2 is produced during the recycling process compared to producing raw aluminium (and an even smaller percentage when considering the complete cycle of mining and transporting the aluminium).
Also, open-cut mining is most often used for obtaining aluminium ore, which destroys large sections of the world's natural land.

Recycling Aluminium has been further improved through Master Magnets high performance ‘Eddy Current Separator’. In the late 80’s Master Magnets recognised a need in the market for a machine which can separate Aluminium (Non Ferrous) from other metals and non metallic’s (E.g Iron and Plastics). Therefore Master Magnets launched the Eddy Current Separator into the market place.

Operating Principle

An Eddy Current Separator basically consists of a short belt conveyor with its drive at the return end. Inside the delivery pulley a rotor fitted with magnets spins at high speed generating a high frequency alternating magnetic field. In a similar manner to electric motors the alternating magnetic field sets up an electric current in conducting metals within its influence, which in turn produces a magnetic field opposing that of the rotor. Conducting metals are therefore repelled by the rotor, and tend to jump away from it. In operation non metallics are discharged as from a normal conveyor. Non ferrous metals, because of the repulsive force, take a higher trajectory passing over a splitter plate placed between the two flows.

The separating efficiency depends on the frequency of the alternating magnetic field, the strength of the magnets, the speed of the conveyor and the position of the splitter plate. All of these factors should be taken into account when selecting a machine for a particular application. In order to allow non ferrous metals to be repulsed by the rotor, material on the conveyor should ideally be in a monolayer, so throughput will depend on the density and particle size of the material, and the width and speed of the conveyor.

Applications

Eddy Current Separators are increasingly used wherever separation of non ferrous metals from a product stream can give a more valuable product, whether the end use is in recycling, reduction of waste, raw material production or any other process where separation is beneficial. Typical examples of applications are :-

• Separation of non ferrous metals in auto shredder residue

• Separation of non ferrous metals from solid waste incinerator ash

• Sorting aluminium beverage cans from non metalllics

• Removal of contamination from crushed glass cullet

• Extraction of contaminants from process lines

• Separation of non ferrous dross from foundry sand

• Non ferrous metal removal in WEE recycling plants

• Removal of aluminium components in UPVC window recycling

At the heart of many Material Recycling Facilities (MRF’s) an Eddy Current Separator will remove non ferrous metals from domestic, commercial and industrial waste.

Technology from Master Magnets

Master Magnets ECS designs incorporate the latest generation neodymium-iron-boron rare earth magnetic elements to give the high field strengths necessary for efficient separation. Careful design of the rotor within the outer pulley shell ensures that the product is as close as possible to the magnets, as does the selection of high quality thin section conveyor belts.

Various combinations of rotor size and magnetic design are available depending on the application. The standard rotor functions well on such applications as municipal waste recycling. The ‘Fines’ rotor will treat small particle sizes where high rejecting forces are required, and a special design treats coarse, light material such as beverage cans. All are available in widths from 300mm to 1500mm depending on the throughput required.

Master Magnets’ latest version of the eddy current separator is lower in cost and specifically designed for can sorting.

Master Magnets can supply a complete solution to a non ferrous separation problem, from laboratory sample testing to design and installation of a complete separation plant. After careful consideration of the operational requirements the plant will be designed to give a long and trouble free life, and to produce separated materials to the customer’s specification. In house experience will be drawn on to ensure that hoppers, feeders, conveyors, magnetic separators, and all other parts of the plant are compatible, and together function efficiently.

For more info, call 0844 560 7706 and quote ‘Recycling Aluminium TS35’.

This has to be the waste management mantra to all skip companies looking to reduce their future landfill tax bill.

As landfill tax and gate fees increase, skip companies’ waste disposal methods need to be smarter and further opportunities to recycle identified.

Fairfield Materials Management believes that Greater Manchester-based skip companies should be sorting and separating incoming green or garden waste material as a means of saving on landfill charges, and redirecting it to Fairfield’s site in East Manchester.

Landfill tax on biodegradable waste was increased at the beginning of April 2008 by a further £8.00, to £32.00 per tonne. This price doesn’t include the gate fee.

Fairfield offers a ‘throw-away’ gate fee of £25.00/tonne for green waste; a price that has encouraged many landscapers and skip hire companies through their gates.

With zero waste ambitions for the New Smithfield wholesale market site on which it is based, Fairfield has contributed to a phenomenal increase in recycling rates on the market from 8% to 60% in 3 years.

Fairfield is a social enterprise that was set up in 2003 in order to divert thousands of tonnes of green and vegetable waste away from landfill and eradicate unnecessary transportation. Its in-situ composting facility on the New Smithfield wholesale market processes fruit & veg waste from the traders and makes it into a BSI PAS100 compost.

The result?

A: many happy skip hire firms that are enjoying lower disposal costs.

B: a dark brown, nutrient-rich compost, in which waste really has been turned into goodness.

As Emma Smith, Projects Manager says, “Companies trying to dispose of their green waste material like to come to us because we provide a very low cost service. We also think they like our genuine environmental intentions”.

Fairfield provides a 6 day drop-off service at its New Smithfield market site in East Manchester. Large green waste customers are billed at the end of the month.

Fairfield's green waste service will help customers to be more sustainable, to help save the earth, and to save the pounds in their pocket.

The latest Generation IV fully hydrostatic tracked loading shovels, from leading crawler loader manufacturer, Liebherr, includes two models in the range which are specifically engineered and factory-built for all the requirements of landfill work – the LR 624 Litronic and the LR 634 Litronic.

A number of specific landfill features have been designed into the machines and the latest engine technology is employed to ensure reliability, performance, fuel economy and reduced noise and exhaust emissions.

Liebherr’s well proven and highly developed hydrostatic drive system remains at the heart of the crawler loader range, which now also includes the well-proven high-technology Litronic engine and hydraulics management system to ensure optimum output and efficiency at all times, as well as fulfiling a diagnostic role for maintenance and workover.

One of the most versatile machine ranges employed on landfill, Liebherr hydrostatic crawler loaders are capable of a wide variety of tasks, including: loading and carrying, sorting and condensing garbage, bulldozing and grading. Additionally, these machines come into their own for spreading landfill cover, or on general earthmoving duties when new cells have to be created.

Standard landfill specification includes all the necessary features required to protect the machine and operator – even on the most arduous of sites. These features include lift cylinder covers, external air supply alternator, exhaust manifold isolation, radiator guard, engine air pre-cleaner with automatic dust ejection, cooling system reversible fan, final drive protection rings and fine perforated plates to the engine housing. Optional extras are available such as rear striker bar, fuel tank guard, track shoes with trapezoidal holes, tilt cylinder guard. Rear-view CCTV systems can be installed, as can an automatic central lubrication system.

For the operator, the spacious cab on Liebherr crawler loaders is a comfortable, functional and safe work station for optimum performance and minimum fatigue, is glazed with tinted armoured glass and is fully ROPS and FOPS protected. Employing the science of ergonomics, the cab is lightly pressurised to prevent dust and odour incursion and is fully air-conditioned. A fully adjustable seat, with ventral safety belt, includes twin joystick controls integrated into the armrests – one for travel speed and direction, the other for attachment movements; Liebherr also offers an option of steering pedals via V-pattern travel control. There is even a lockable storage space under the armrest, a cup holder, coat hook and a 12v electric coolbox.

Front end attachments include standard, multi-purpose, waste and clamshell buckets with appropriate bolt-on or flush-mounted weld adaptors for teeth and cutting edges suited to the purpose. A rear-mounted rigid drawbar or three-shank ripper can also be fitted and the latter is particularly useful for loosening overburden.

For more info call 0844 560 7706 and quote ‘Learn to Crawl TS35’

“All my tips come from personal experience managing waste recycling facilities in the sunny North West of England - Wigan, Liverpool, Widnes, Stoke on Trent, etc...”

1. Waste Picker Productivity

Make the job simple with as little double handling as possible.

A mixed builder’s skip could contain all sorts that can be diverted from landfill.

Tip and spread the contents on the floor, then load each fraction, like timber and metal, into a medium size loading shovel. At many companies I visit the loads are being pushed up and contaminating good material for recycling. Space is always at a premium - I say again, buy a baler and buy extra hook lift bins to store recyclate.

2. Second Sorting Shift

Consider introducing a second shift to your transfer station/ recycling facility. It may be safer and more cost effective to sort after hours, when there are no vehicles tipping.

3. You’re Fired!

The work in transfer stations is hard, dirty and dangerous, so staff turnover can be high.

Ensure your employment contracts, offer letters and even notes in diaries are up to date. To get rid of unsuitable staff, the paperwork must be right.

4. There’s Gold in Them There Skips!

Never give up looking for cash in the trash. This week I found a mint condition Elvis EP inside an old radiogram!

Roger Hudspith is a director of A2Shred Ltd in Winsford, Cheshire. He also holds the level 4 COTC for waste transfer treatment and hazardous waste treatment. Email the Garbage Guru at theguru@theskip.net to ask any questions about the murky world of waste. For more tips visit www.theskip.net

Karen Wilde takes a look at weighbridge evolution and the modern tools available to enhance your weighing operations.

Some days, I look down at my ever expanding waistline and think I’m going to need a weighbridge instead of scales soon. Middle age spread is no fun. But weighbridges are. Stick with me now...

Those glorified bathroom scales that we call weighbridges have evolved over the years. At one time full of levers and counterbalances and hard to use; best not to mention accuracy too loudly either. Today, things are different. Weighbridge technology has vastly improved, and a good weighbridge can become the central hub of your business.

A variety of types and sizes means you can find just the right one for your particular business needs. As you can imagine, these needs vary from company to company. So much so, that finding an industry standard is almost impossible. It gets worse when you start to examine the software these companies use. Each business is unique in its application of this equipment and it isn’t unusual for software to be fully customised, or even made to order.

TYPES OF WEIGHBRIDGE

Surface Mounted

Surface mounted bridges, as the name suggests, are fitted directly on top of the road. It goes without saying that you will need a good flat surface to fit this type, although some weighbridges can accommodate an angle of up to 5°.

These bridges are supplied in sections, and can be anything up to 24 metres in length and take weights of up to 100 tons. Big enough for most skip yard applications. Fitted into the main deck are a set of components that actually do the weighing, load cells, instead of the old levers and counterbalances. New digital cells are very accurate and hard-wearing; they can even be connected to the Internet and will automatically notify an engineer if there is a problem. Troubleshooting becomes a breeze when you don’t need to start digging and dismantling to handle repairs and recalibration.

Surface mounted weighbridges do require ramps on either end so that your vehicles can ride up onto the weighing deck. This means not only is the bridge very long, but will also need a good bit of space beyond this to position yourself for your run up. Because of this, it can be a good idea to fit them near the entrance to your yard.

One of the major plus points with surface decks, is that they are easily taken up, relatively speaking. If you should ever move to a new yard, for example, you can take your weighbridge with you.

Portable

Doing this is even easier with one of the many portable decks that are available. These mini bridges are great for spot checks or for filling in while you are waiting for the installation of your full size bridge. Using them is slightly different though, as you are weighing each axle separately, instead of the truck as a whole. To do this you have to drive over them at a slow, steady speed. The cells then weigh each axle as it passes over to get a total weight. Not as accurate as a full size bridge but they serve a useful purpose.

Pit Mounted

Pit mounted bridges, on the other hand, are fitted flush with the road surface. This is done by digging a trench to the required size and lining it with concrete. Load cells can then be dropped in and the main weighing deck fitted on top. Handily, many of the old lever based bridges were also built into pits. So, if you are stuck with an old bridge, it can be updated quite easily.

Because they don’t need mounting ramps at either end, pit mounted bridges can fit into a much smaller space than surface mounted. No more run up problems. They don’t even need to be full length, just full width. Using it this way creates a much more accurate axle weighbridge, especially if your truck has self-compensating axles. Take these over a surface mounted bridge and you find the weight shifting about as you ride up the ramp. This will inevitably affect the weighing and give you an inaccurate reading. Dynamic weighing of this type can be done over a pit mounted deck; the flat surface means that the load won’t shift as it goes over the bridge. Making it smooth and accurate, like a Beckham free kick.

On the downside, pit mounted bridges can be prone to flooding. This makes choosing the right bridge for your yard especially important as you must take drainage into account. And digging that pit in the first place could increase the cost of your installation.

Portable versions of the pit mounted weighbridges have not yet been developed. I am told that manufacturers are still waiting for ACME Industries to perfect the movable hole.

On-board Weighing

Fines for an overweight truck on the public highway are no laughing matter and a small business could be hit hard. There is no excuse. With this in mind, load cells on trucks make a lot of sense. Besides letting the driver know he is overloaded, modern cells can also be trade approved. This now makes it possible for the driver to pick up a skip, weigh it there and then and print off an invoice in the cab. How much better to be able to charge by weight instead of volume?

SOFTWARE

A good bridge is only half as useful as it could be without some good software to back it up. True, your bridge will probably come with its own rudimentary software and a basic controller as standard. But, various companies now provide bespoke software for weighbridges, and the controllers can be easily replaced, meaning you don’t have to struggle to find an off-the-shelf package with just the right combination of functionality for you. And with more of us being affected by LATS, recording the amount of waste being diverted from landfill will be easy and pain free. The right software will keep track of all the relevant details without slowing down other aspects of your business.

Your software could do more than just operate the bridge. Packages are available that can track skips and lorries so you will always know where everything and everyone should be. Don’t worry though; this isn’t a Big Brother thing. It’s all a matter of knowing which customer a particular load is for, or where it’s returning from. For instance, if a driver is going to collect a skip, you will know where he is going. Weighing him when he gets back allows you to match up that truck and skip with the relevant customer. Billing the client is made easier too as any software worth its salt will connect directly and seamlessly with an accounts package like Sage. As soon as you have weighed the skip, an invoice can be ready within minutes.

Things can be even easier with some clever electronics to replace the simple control box normally attached to your bridge. Companies such as Weightron and Avery Weigh-Tronix have developed Number Plate Recognition Systems (NPRS). With these, your computer can now control who has access to the bridge, or even the yard. It is a simple set up then for the computer to know who is leaving the yard, where they are going and how heavy they are when they return.

Weight in and weight out is simply done. Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, more complex systems can be set up. You could track the movements of trucks around the country (or a very large yard) with a network of weighbridges all linked to a central computer; all of which can be linked to accounts for invoicing the right people at the right time, or recorded for LATS.

HEALTH & SAFETY

In a large yard, it just makes sense to have as few people as possible wandering about around heavy plant and trucks. Driver operated control boxes keep bums on seats. There’s no real need to have drivers leave cabs, and these boxes give your bridge a huge safety boost. Each driver is issued with a swipe card that is read by the box. Visiting drivers can have bar-coded tickets printed at the bridge as they come in which they swipe again as they leave. So, there is no excuse for anyone to be wandering around. Of course, with NPRS there is no need for swipe cards either. Your bridge can act as “Guardian of the Yard” and record the movement of every truck and its load.

Twin bridges can be an expensive option for controlling vehicle movements but they do lend themselves to a health and safety conscious one way system. Many companies find they more than pay for themselves because they allow more trips to be made with no unnecessary, expensive and potentially dangerous queuing.

Whichever type of weighing system suits your organisation depends on many factors. Weighbridges can be a lot more important, and useful, than you might have thought – not just for weighing your staff after the Christmas party. But used correctly, and with thought, can really streamline virtually every aspect of your business.

A South Wales skip hire firm is struggling to survive after an arson attack destroyed two of their wagons last month.

AJ Gill and Sons, of Tonypandy, near Cardiff, was struck by the attackers during the early hours of the morning on May 14th. The CCTV footage shows two culprits on push-bikes forcing their way into the yard, before dowsing the trucks with liquid and setting them alight at around 3.30am.

Company bosses now fear they could be forced to lay off staff as a result of the attack.

“It’s put a big struggle on the business,” said Dean Gill, 32, one of the firm’s co-owners. “We’ve had to try to replace vehicles. We’ve had to cancel work and we might have to lay some of the part-time workers off at the end of this week. Some customers have been good as gold, but some have not been sympathetic. At the end of the day, it’s not our fault.

We are going to bear the brunt and hope the insurance is sorted as soon as possible. We’re in their hands.”

The company looks likely to have to find around £1,500 a week to continue operating until the trucks are replaced, and also seems certain to lose income as a direct result.

“It’s a time of the year when everybody is struggling. All we’re trying to do is earn a living.” said Mr Gill.

“I was gutted when I saw the lorries,” he added. “It’s our livelihood. Someone is trying to put us out of business. Some people like to brag about things like this, so I hope if anyone hears anything, they will tell the police.”

Anyone with information should call South Wales Police on 01656 655555, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

In a recent episode of the BBC series “The Apprentice”, one team had the genius idea of producing ‘greeting’ cards to promote environmental issues - such as minimising waste! The irony of the scheme actually had to be pointed out to them before they could see it.

I wonder how Norwich City Council would fair in Sir Alan’s boardroom if they went along to explain their new initiative, launched last month, which involves adding to unsightly fly-tipping with a range of garish orange and black labelling!

The range includes stickers, plastic bags and cordoning tape – all produced with the intention of encouraging people to stay away from incidents of fly-tipping, and to inform people that the illegal dumping has been noted by the council and is under investigation.

Norwich City Council’s Environmental Protection Officer, Emily Capps, said: “The stickers have several purposes - they will indicate that the environmental protection team are aware of an incident of fly tipping, they may help jog someone’s memory and help bring forward potential witnesses, and will also highlight where waste has been incorrectly disposed of. They also carry the important message that people shouldn’t touch fly-tipped materials.

Similarly, the bags we have introduced are to contain waste that may have escaped from plastic sacks or may spread around the area if we don’t do something about it. They are biodegradable too which means that we are doing our bit in terms of waste minimisation.”

Where do I start? Well, to be fair, doing anything about the persistent problem of fly-tipping is better than doing nothing at all. But this scheme seems a little flawed and begs the obvious question: if public money is going to be spent on the man-hours involved in sending people to the site and on materials to highlight and contain it, why not just spend that money on removing the waste?

Nobody could dispute that the most serious implications of fly-tipping are the potential health dangers and pollution, but a big factor is the terrible eye-sore it creates, which is present in all fly-tipping even if it doesn’t pose any threat. Is it really a great idea, then, to add brightly coloured orange stickers into the mix? Is this really what local people suffering the consequences of fly-tipping want their taxes spent on? Or would they prefer to see it removed rather than added to?

People more cynical than me might well suggest it was a bit of a PR exercise, with the focus on ensuring the council are seen to be doing something about it, rather than on resolving the effects of fly-tipping in the most efficient way.

A father and son have appeared in court after a fatal accident occurred at Ridings Farm, Dundry, where they run a skip hire business and livery.

The pair have been charged with the manslaughter of Lee Mason, a 17-year-old from Knowle, who was working as a farm labourer, when he was dragged into a giant soil recycling machine and crushed to death.

Roy Hill, 63, and his son, Michael, 31, who run family business RE Hill & Son, allegedly failed to place a protective guard on the soil-sifter, which dragged Lee Mason to his death on April 4th last year. Avon Coroner’s Court had previously confirmed that the teenager died when his neck was broken by the machine.

As well as the charge of manslaughter, the father and son also face charges of failing to discharge a duty and contravening the Health and Safety Act. It is alleged they failed to adequately train Lee how to use the machine.

Appearing at Bristol Crown Court the men spoke only to confirm their names. No pleas were entered and a provisional trial date was set for January 12, 2009. They have been remanded on unconditional bail.

Hundreds of scouts in York have seen their fundraising efforts take a battering after the bizarre theft of thirteen billboards.

Members of Dringhouse Scout group have held a house-to-house recycling collection for the past fifteen years. The scouts are paid £40 from City of York Council and a local skip hire firm for every tonne of paper collected.

As per usual, the scouts placed their billboards along Tadcaster Road, three days in advance, to remind residents of the collection.

However, over the weekend, all but three of the sixteen notices mysteriously disappeared. This led to a much lower percentage of residents remembering about the collection, and the Scouts missed out on around £200 earnings as a result.

Ann Iveson, Secretary, said: “I’m so angry. It’s not just the Scouts who have missed out, the people of Dringhouses rely on us to pick their paper up. We’re trying to do something good for the community and this is how we are repaid. It is so frustrating.

Normally we fill a skip with 10 to 12 tonnes of paper, but on Saturday it was barely half full. We’re also going to pay for a new set of boards, which will cost about another £200. That is really annoying because we had only just bought a new set of boards after the old ones got worn out.”

Ms Iveson added: “I’ve no idea why they did it. We can’t think why anybody would want our boards and it would have been a very odd prank. There is a worry that whoever has them might use them for nefarious purposes because they have the official Scout emblem on them. They might pretend they are collecting money for the Scouts.”

Cheap Skips, of Matlock, Derbyshire has been dubbed ‘Chav Skips’ after their company director was electronically tagged and handed a curfew by Derby Magistrates’ Court last month.

You might think that such punishments are the reserve of hardened criminals or a fashion accessory for ASBO-teenagers, but it seems that the skip hire industry is now subject to this chav-tastic jewellery too.

Cheap Skips’ director, Martin John Hudson, was found guilty of illegally keeping waste without a waste management license. His sentence also includes a five month prison stretch suspended for 12 months, 250 hours community service, £5,000 compensation to be paid to the Environment Agency and a £4,308.58 payment for prosecution costs.

On January 31, 2006, EA officers visited the Cheap Skips site at Ambergate Sawmills, Ripley Road, and found skips full of old doors, wood, plastic, concrete and other waste. Subsequent inspections found more skips on site containing waste as well as piles of demolition waste. On December 4, 2006, EA officers went to the Ambergate site, with police, to seize the company’s paperwork.

EA investigating officer Damien Ashby said: “Martin Hudson continued to operate Cheap Skips illegally, deceiving customers and undercutting legitimate businesses. This is not his first offence and the sentence imposed reflects this.”

Perhaps they were afraid that Mr Hudson might try to skip the country.

Chris Robinson, a 63-year-old skip hire driver, is lucky to be alive after he was struck by a powerful lightning bolt whilst going about his work.

The 300,000 volt strike was so powerful that it threw Chris 10ft from his truck and left him unconscious as he was unloading a skip at a Great Yarmouth industrial estate.

Mr Robinson was out cold for about ten minutes until he came to and found himself lying on the ground with no feeling in his legs and right arm. Eventually, he crawled back to his truck and managed to drag himself up on to his feet.

Here’s the bit where Chris wins ‘employee of the century award’ as, amazingly, he then kept on working! Now that’s dedication. It was only when he began to feel sharp aches and pains and a sensation of stones in his boots, over five hours later, that Mr Robinson eventually took a trip to the James Paget University Hospital.

It had only just begun to rain when Chris arrived at the location, but the rain quickly turned to severe hail.

“I got out and got beside the lorry and put my coat over my head to shelter myself from the rain. The next thing I knew I felt an explosion in my head and ended up 10ft away from the lorry and I was like a jelly. There was no feeling in my arms or legs,” Mr Robinson explained.

He described hearing a loud bang, similar to “a shot from a 12-bore gun,” before being rendered unconscious.

It was only afterwards, when he spoke to another driver who had seen the lightning bolt strike in his direction, that Mr Robinson realised just what had happened to him.

Incredibly, the only treatment he required, following the incident, was a bandage for the blisters on his feet! After several tests, Chris was then given the all-clear by hospital staff.

It’s unlikely that Mr Robinson will ever forget the experience. Especially as his five-year-old granddaughter, Darcie, now calls him “Grandad Sparky” and his workmates at EE Green & Son have started referring to him simply as “Flash”!

Reflecting on his amazingly lucky survival, Mr Robinson said: “It is incredible really. I can’t get over it. I am a big bloke and to be thrown that far is amazing.”

If we give you the money, will you go and put our lottery tickets on for us please, Chris?

Air-Seal Products Ltd has some neat solutions for those annoying, costly puncture problems. They offer specially formulated tyre sealants for the waste and recycling industry.

Their complete range of Tyre Sealants can prevent up to 95% of all punctures up to 1.25 inches (30 mm) and stop all rim, bead and other slow air leaks.

Customers already using the product have found that Air-Seal has saved their company both time and money. Operational efficiency is improved by reducing costly downtime for idle machines and labour. A single treatment can cost less than the full cost of one tyre repair and lasts the legal life of the tyre.

Air-Seal Products are backed by a first class technical service - based on their extensive on-site experience.

There is no other known tyre sealant available which can match their performance for solutions and service.

You can meet the Air-Seal Products Team in person at SED 2008 and see them banging nails and spikes into a tyre on Stand Number P60 - seeing is believing!

For more information, telephone: 01823 674411, visit their web site at: www.air-sealproducts.com, or e-mail: info@air-sealproducts.com

Marketing your company in-house and online, whilst keeping the control safely & solely with you, the Directors of the business, is now available for the skip hire sector.

During last year, the UK public spent 19.2 billion pounds ordering goods & services on the Internet. Economists predict an increase of 30% growth this year, which is why new media marketing is fast becoming an essential sales tool to win new business across such a variety of sectors.

Growing your business could not be more cost effective, with the new website ‘bolt on package’, already on the market, designed by software web page experts, Palace Pier Media, based on the South coast.

Software web pages allow potential customers instantly to select, order and pre-pay for skip hire, in addition to arranging collection or re-hire.

With a boom in the home improvements market forecast, based on falling house prices and people staying in their present home, the future for the hire sector looks buoyant, but a feeling of ‘making hay’ is an attitude that companies must have if they are to ride the troughs too.

For less than thirty pounds a week, skip hire companies have purchased the new software and reported substantial growth and heavily reduced overheads as this simple to use product is entirely operated by the prospective customer clicking a link on your website and entering their postcode.

Junior staff can easily administer the system which includes a back end full management facility. The facility sits well no matter what the size of your company or I.T. skills.

Being able to monitor new sales, which interestingly peek during the hours of 6pm – 10pm, one skip hire company generated 100 orders in one month, the only advertising being on their skips and lorries.

The speed of return on their investment surpassed any predictions they had.

A welcome added bonus to enable a fast return on your investment is free marketing of your website for twelve months on a UK wide dedicated website promoting local skip hire, found on all the major search engines.

You are invited to view the system, call 0844 560 7706 and quote ‘online skips’.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the waste sector could be the key to an ‘affordable’ strategy in reducing the threat of disastrous environmental and economic problems potentially resulting from climate change.

The OECD’s 2008 Environmental Outlook report warns that global greenhouse gases could increase 37% by 2030, and 52% by 2050, under current worldwide government policies. However, it also claims that air pollutants could be reduced by around 33%, and the growth of greenhouse gas emissions limited to just 12% if the global economy introduces policies costing only 1% of GDP.

Priority measures recommended by the report include waste charges, eco-labelling, green taxes and polluter-pay systems. It also points the finger at the need for more stringent controls in building construction, to reduce waste and thus increase efficiency (although, isn’t that what the new SWMP legislation, introduced last month, is intended to do?)

The general thinking behind the report’s conclusions, as explained by OECD secretary-general, Angel Gurría at the launch of the report in Oslo, is that wasteful operations should be heavily taxed by governments. Mr Gurría said: “Policies should focus on pricing the ‘bad’, rather than on subsidising the ‘good’.”

Addressing globally poor standards of hazardous waste management, Gurría spoke of “environmental issues which are not well managed, are in a bad or worsening state, and which require urgent attention.”

Plans for the redevelopment of a former ice cream depot, currently being used by a skip hire company, have gone into meltdown after a planning appeal was rejected for the third time.

Residents of Glencoe Rd in Bushey, Herts, are now trying to encourage developers and the council to work together and come up with a solution to what has been described as “a rat infested monstrosity”.

Limebrook Investment Company, the owners of the site, decided to lease the plot to an industrial skip hire company while awaiting permission to build eight cottages.

With no permission having yet been granted, and no clear solution around the corner, residents are now worried that the interim use of the site by heavy skip lorries will continue indefinitely.

Glencoe Road resident, Graham Boyle, said: “Yesterday a car blocked off the top of the road and the lorries could not get in which could have caused a problem if something like a fire engine wanted to get through.

The lorries are large and it is a narrow road so the implications are it could cause a lot of problems. I thought the developers were just using the skips in order to scare the council.”

An anonymous resident said she understood the developer’s decision to lease the land, but was keen to see the housing development go ahead. She commented: “The developer has to make money somehow but I do wish they would get on with it with the council and get something done.

You've got rats running about in there, it's got an asbestos roof, it's a monstrosity. Everybody wants a residential development.”

Sasha Gilbert, speaking for the developers, said that a revised application would be submitted to the council, but could not put any timing on when that would happen.

Recycling UK Limited has been established for 10 years and has very recently moved it’s Head Office to newly built larger premises at Nantwich, Cheshire.

The Business has grown substantially in recent years and as well as being one of the largest independent traders of waste paper in Europe, they have also become actively involved in the trading of other recyclables especially plastic.

Readers of The Skip may be interested to know that they offer ‘hands on advice’ to waste management firms wanting to recycle more of their waste; with regard to sorting and grading systems, equipment requirements and in offering a complete marketing solution for the products.

As well as being major purchasers of all grades of paper and recyclable plastics, Recycling UK Limited can collect reels of paper or plastic, baled and palletised materials from producers of waste including surplus and damaged stock. They can also remove confidential materials and ensure destruction of office records and various materials.

For more info, call Recycling UK Limited on 01270 611444

Chris Oldfield, MD of Riverside Waste Machinery Limited, is ‘Out in Front Again’. After a very successful year, Riverside have moved to larger premises in Boroughbridge. The Company was formed in 1997 to supply Balers and Shredders for the Recycling and disposal of Industrial Waste. Now the largest independent supplier of waste balers in the country, Riverside has gone from strength to strength supplying Vertical Balers, usually from stock. The Company has full UK sales backup and sells machines on rental lease, with full installation and training.

Riverside are also the sole distributor of UNTHA shredders in the UK. Manufactured in Austria, UNTHA are renowned for supplying high quality shredding systems. Utilising single, twin and four shaft technology, UNTHA Shredders are used for shredding wood, plastic, rubber, tyres and MSW waste down to a particle for recycling or volume reduction.

Chris Oldfield says “These are very exciting times in our market place and with our partnership with UNTHA we are in a good position to benefit.”

UNTHA is about to launch a new machine in the market place for the shredding of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuels). This will be a brand new concept machine and is to be released at IFAT 2008 in Munich on the 5th May. We believe that this will take the industry by storm in the same way that they did when they invented the first 4 shaft shredder nearly 30 years ago.

Recently Riverside has signed a new agreement with HSM Balers to sell their branded products. To facilitate this they have set up a dedicated HSM showroom, where Customers can see how the machinery works and operates in a safe environment.

If you would like more information on waste balers & Shredders please call 0845 450 5388 or visit the website:www.wastemachinery.co.uk

The Garbage Guru on a recent fact-finding trip, researching the finer points of recycling facilities in the red light district of Hamburg, Germany.

1. Buy a Baler

All manner of plastics waste can be sold for export when baled. A second hand baler typically costs around £15,000.

2. Talk to Your Competitors!

Some skip companies shred tyres, others can collect glass or timber. We can’t all do everything, so it often makes business sense to combine your operations. Why fight for market share when you can share the market!

3. Early to Bed, Early to Rise - Work Like Hell and ADVERTISE!

I put 40 rel skips in the March issue of The Skip and I genuinely sold the lot! I received 27 calls - I even got one from Ireland.

4. Get Prepared For Compulsory Driver Training Legislation

Yes folks, there’s more b******* from Brussells on the way, I’m afraid! The new Driver ‘CPC’ comes into force in the UK and across all EU member states from September 2009 for all LGV drivers. This means that all drivers will require 35 hours compulsory refresher training every 5 years to keep the entitlement.

In future it could cost £2,500 to get a HGV licence. Plan for the future - get the free info packs now from VOSA. Companies such as E.P. Training Services are delivering free seminars to bring companies and individuals up to date on how this new legislation will effect them (www.eptraining.co.uk).

Roger Hudspith is a director of A2Shred Ltd in Winsford, Cheshire. He also holds the level 4 COTC for waste transfer treatment and hazardous waste treatment. Email the Garbage Guru at theguru@theskip.net to ask any questions about the murky world of waste. For more tips visit www.theskip.net

"I’ll tell you what really gets on my skips..."

“I have a problem with skip lorries. Especially when they arrive to a symphony of beeps, scrapes and bangs on Saturday morning… The drivers usually behave as if they're filming a remake of Mad Max”

These are the words of Victoria Summerley, writing in The Independent (Wed, 9th April – full article online at: http://tinyurl.com/6ncfkk). I couldn’t help getting slightly agitated by this painfully out-of-date stereotype and sweeping generalisation regarding the attitude of skip drivers. Not to mention the implied notion that the job of a skip truck driver - and the need for skips themselves - is somehow of little importance to society.

She also writes of her disapproval “when they block the road just when I need to drive somewhere, or when they block the neighbouring street, so all the traffic diverts down our road.”

As we all know, the only reason any skip lorry driver could possibly have for blocking a street is the sheer thrill of inconveniencing all those potential customers in neighbouring properties – it’s surely the most exhilarating experience there is, isn’t it? It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with there being no other option than to temporarily block the road for the shortest time possible while serving the needs of a customer, could it?

Imagine the sheer trauma involved when a skip lorry is not even in your street, but a few extra road tax paying drivers need to come down that way for a short while. It doesn’t bear thinking about. Surely there’s a care line for that sort of horrific ordeal? Poor Victoria.

So, on to the obvious question: what happens wh