A Glutton cleaning machine has been bought by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for its street scene team.
The Glutton features a vacuum that sucks up waste, such as paper, cardboard, cigarettes butts, cans, glass, plastic and metal bottles, dog mess, dead leaves and waste trapped in tree grills, all through a 12.5cm diameter tube.
Andrew Roddis, the council's specialist cleansing services manager, said: 'The Glutton is particularly effective at cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as around trees, under seating and in shop doorways. At this time of year, with lots of wet leaves around, it really comes into its own'
The machine is battery-powered and provides 12 hours of operation between charges. It is also virtually silent and, with powerful dust capturing technology, it can be used during busy periods without creating any noise or air pollution for residents, businesses and shoppers.
The operator simply uses one hand to steer the self-propelled machine, while the other controls the vacuum that is attached to a wander hose. It weighs substantially less than a conventional powered barrow used for street waste collection and, at just 0.75m wide it is far more compact, making it easier to handle.
An intelligent, integrated battery charger enables recharging from any mains electricity supply, allowing for opportune charging in the field. Furthermore, as an all-electric machine, it requires virtually no maintenance or replacement of spare parts.
'We already owned petrol-powered barrows and a ride-on sweeper but they are quite noisy because of the engines,' added Andrew.
'The Glutton is non-intrusive, so it gives us increased flexibility. My team can start work at 6am in areas of the town centre where people live, without fear of disturbing them ' something we couldn't do before'
