MAINE, USA — Hermon, Levant, and Carmel are joining three other communities in Penobscot County that are using Casella Waste Systems' automated side load collection service.
This household trash pickup system eliminates workers having to hang from the back of their trucks. With the automated side loader, a driver uses a joy stick to operate a mechanical arm that lifts the bin up to the truck and sets the bin back down without the worker having to leave the truck.
"Its very exciting for our team to see the progress that we've made because they understand the risk out there every day,” Jim Dunning, market area manager for Casella Waste Systems, said.
According to 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, trash and recycling collector was the seventh deadliest job in the country.
"Getting the person off the back of the truck and using automation and technology to make it a better process for everyone,” Dunning said.
Hermon started using this service in mid-October with hopes to provide improved safety and efficiency for workers and residents.
The City of Bangor has used the tool for the last four years. Public Works Director Aaron Huotari said safety and efficiency go hand-in-hand especially during severe weather.
"You don't have drivers on the ice. You don't have drivers in the snow trying to pick up and move back and forth from the truck, jumping off the truck in all kinds of different weather,” Huotari said.