The National Refuse Championships return for the third year this summer when 32 teams will compete in a series of gruelling races along the seafront at Weston-super-Mare.
Last year's winner Grist Environmental has already signed up to defend its title.
The two-day event will take place from 14-15 June 2019 and offers a range of opportunities, attractions, and activities for everyone in the waste management industry and their families.
The first day, Friday 14 June, will feature live demonstrations of the latest technology and equipment for waste and recycling collection as well as information on careers development and training opportunities. There will also be a number of keynote speakers including Cynthia Barlow OBE, chair of road safety charity RoadPeace and winner of the 2019 Future Fleet Lifetime Achievement Award.
The championship event will take place on Saturday 15 June. Teams of five will race against the clock to load large wheelie bins with sandbags and push them 50m to empty into awaiting refuse vehicles. The process is repeated numerous times as the trucks move forwards in 50m stages until they reach the finish line. Teams compete in a series of heats, culminating in a semi-final and final.
The winning team will be awarded £3,000 worth of Center Parcs vouchers, second place team members will receive £1,250 of Buy-A-Gift vouchers and the team in third place will receive £1,000 of Buy-A-Gift vouchers. Teams already signed up to take part include Grist Environmental, Biffa Weston, Cartwrights, Amey, Grundon, Faun, Dennis Eagle, Biffa Municipal, Cawleys, Bristol Waste Company, Devon Contract Waste, Pirtek, VWS, Redditch District Council, and Imperial Commercials.
The event is raising money for the Alzheimer's Society and is sponsored by DAF and Imperial Commercials. Donations can be made here.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the event and there will be food stalls, a cider bar, live music from The Free Spirit Band, and a Kids' Zone.
For more information contact Tracy Standing on 07772 500 736 or visit www.nationalrefusechampionships.co.uk.
