Toni Robinson, Risk & Sustainability Director at Grundon Waste Management Ltd and chair of the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum, explores how new food waste collection systems are creating fresh operational and health risks for crews.
There has been plenty of debate about whether Simpler Recycling has ‘worked’, but a more important question is emerging: what has it meant for safety?
The most significant shift has come from the rapid expansion of food waste recycling, which has reshaped day‑to‑day operations more than any other element. New vehicles, redesigned routes, and unfamiliar handling processes have all been introduced at pace, each bringing its own safety considerations.
Many local authorities have never operated vehicles designed specifically for collecting food waste as a separate stream. With demand for specialist vehicles increasing, choice has often been limited and procurement decisions made under pressure. This makes it even more important to ensure that every safety feature is fully assessed before operations commence so frontline crews are protected throughout their working day.
All vehicles and their lifting equipment must meet the requirements of EN 1501‑1/5, which provides a robust baseline for safety. However, compliance alone to this standard doesn’t address every operational risk. The growing use of top loader food waste vehicles, essentially a skip into which material is tipped, introduces additional considerations. For example, when designing the hopper has consideration been given to how leakages will be prevented and how it will be safely cleaned out?
Tipping systems on some models rely on wander leads (remote or tethered controls), giving operators the ability to control the lift from outside the cab. While this can improve visibility and ergonomics, it also creates new hazards if the correct engineered controls are not in place. Operators must remain within a clearly defined safety zone while still maintaining a full view of the working area. The system needs to be designed so that only one control can operate at a time, with a dead-man’s switch being incorporated.
The next point to consider is the planning of the routes, more specifically that the route risk assessments are appropriate for the food waste collections. The assessing of route risks is covered in the WISH guidance, Safe Waste and Recycling Collection Services (WASTE 23), as well as other controls that need considering.
Unlike general or recycling rounds, food waste is typically transferred from household caddies into a transfer bin, which is then pushed from property to property. This brings about more additional elements that need to be considered to ensure suitable controls are put in place. Traffic interaction becomes a key concern, as the worker will generally walk between properties so increasing exposure to other road users. There is increased manual handling involved with picking up the small caddies and manoeuvring the transfer bin repeatedly throughout the round. These are entirely new challenges created by the new collection regime required under Simpler Recycling.
Health hazards also need careful consideration. Food waste will be collected in various stages of decomposition, particularly problematic in warmer months, raising the likelihood of exposure to biological hazards. The collection crews need thorough training on maintaining good hygiene, along with access to hand cleaning facilities before eating or taking breaks. Risks can be reduced further when householders contain their food waste in bags or wrap it before disposal, so limiting direct exposure. Additional information and controls are set out in the WISH guidance Health and Hazardous Substances in Waste and Recycling (WASTE 27).
These additional hazards must also be reflected in occupational health surveillance. Potential exposure to biological hazards, including bioaerosols, means respiratory health testing will be required. A baseline assessment should be undertaken initially, followed by regular monitoring to ensure no adverse impact over time.
At WISH our role is to develop, promote and maintain guidance to help you navigate the challenges highlighted above. Our website hosts a wide range of guidance and practical information that, while not written specifically for Simpler Recycling, provides clear direction on establishing the right controls and safe systems of work. The regulatory landscape will continue to evolve as more waste streams are collected separately, and each new activity brings its own risks. The essential message is simple: new activities must be properly risk assessed, with robust method statements and safe working procedures in place before operations begin.
Photo: Toni Robinson is Risk & Sustainability Director at Grundon Waste Management Ltd and chair of the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum © Toni Robinson.
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