New super sized refuse fleet hits City streets

THE 1st wave of Liverpool's 1st fully owned fleet of refuse vehicles has arrived to boost the City's bid to meet new refuse and recycling targets. Liverpool City Council approved a ₤3.4m loan for Liverpool Streetscene Services Ltd (LSSL) to acquire twenty refuse vehicles and ten new vehicle bin lifts to improve the collection and recycling of household waste across the City.  The 1st 10 vehicles of the brand new fuel efficient fleet have now arrived with the 2nd tranche to begin operations in October 2017.  The new vehicles will each be able to collect more than three tonnes of waste and are fitted with rear wheel drive and a faster and safer operating mechanisms, which will free up more than 2 hours a day for collections. The new bin lifts will also make for a more efficient service allowing each vehicle to do 1,200 lifts a day compared to the current average of 925; that's a 20% rise. Providing a more effective refuse and recycling service the new fleet will help the City's efforts to reach its target of recycling more than 55% of waste by 2020. The capital loan; which does not affect the Council's annual budget; will be repaid over the next 10 years by LSSL, which was established in 2016 when the City Council brought cleansing and refuse operations back under its control. The request for the loan followed a LSSL review of the current fleet, which is hired and subject to high maintenance costs.

Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods who is also a Director of LSSL, said:- "This investment in a new fleet of refuse vehicles is a great statement of intent in our goal to make Liverpool a cleaner and greener City.  The Council inherited a tired and run down fleet which was inefficient, unreliable and costly. Having a brand new refuse fleet that is bigger, faster and safer will give the collection teams the right tools to ensure residents receive a more reliable service. However, we still need residents to take action by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste enable us to hit our targets and reduce the costs to them.''

The purchase of the eco friendly refuse fleet follows the recent announcement that Liverpool is on course to meet its climate change targets; 3 years ahead of schedule. According to recent Government statistics, the City has already achieved a staggering 18% reduction in carbon emissions since 2012 and is on course to hit 35% by 2020. The City Council has now approved a report to press ahead with a series of initiatives to continue the drive to a:- "Low Carbon Liverpool," by setting an increased carbon reduction target by 2030.

Enjoy bank holiday music festivals for free by becoming an Oxfam volunteer

FANCY going to some of the UK's top festivals, but put off by the price of a ticket? Then apply to be an Oxfam festival volunteer and get in for free.  Oxfam is recruiting volunteers for Leeds, Reading and Shambala Festivals on August 2017 Bank Holiday Weekend, where world class music acts and jaw dropping entertainment promise to wow crowds.  In working three shifts over five days, Oxfam volunteers can catch live performances from the likes of Eminem and Korn, the world's best beat boxers and circus acts, or get involved in crafts and yoga workshops. What's more, volunteers camp in a secure designated workers field with clean showers and a 24 hour catering service.  Apply online.   Oxfam is paid by festivals for volunteers' time, raising essential money for the charity to carry out its work fighting poverty and suffering around the world. Volunteers work as stewards or campaigners, or help staff an on site Oxfam shop. George Upcott, Oxfam's Head of Festivals, said:- "Being a volunteer at festivals is a music lover's dream. You do 3 shifts at each event, and off duty you're free to enjoy yourself like any other festival goer. Oxfam volunteers also get special perks. They camp in a secure field with:- showers, loos, phone charging, a chill out marquee, free tea and coffee and meals. We give everyone training including professional skills, like customer relations, which employers value in the real world. Best of all, everyone receives a warm welcome and meets a great bunch of like minded individuals. Volunteering at a festival either as a campaigner, steward or in an on site Oxfam shop is the perfect way to have a great time and help Oxfam fight poverty around the world."

Volunteer steward Tamsin Harding, 26, 1st volunteered at Camp Bestival a few years ago. She went by herself, but said:- "I instantly made friends before I'd even set up my tent, and it's remained that way ever since. The experience made me realise that I'm good at engaging with crowds and lifting the mood of tired festival goers. It highlighted my administration and organisational skills, which I now use in my job working for a yearly arts fringe event."

An Oxfam festival volunteer steward is there to keep people safe and provide information and advice to festival goers. Typical jobs include welcoming visitors, checking tickets and wristbands, managing access to stages, and monitoring crowd levels. Our stewards become the face of the festival and look after all areas, including arenas, gates and campsites.  Other festival volunteers staff on-site Oxfam shops or talk about current Oxfam campaigns like Stand as One with refugees, helping draw attention to urgent issues. Oxfam festival volunteers are asked to pay a deposit for a ticket, which is fully reimbursed within a month. Volunteers also have the opportunity to transfer their deposit to work at Bestival in Dorset if they would like to volunteer again. All applicants must be aged 18 or over at the festival. Apply online now!