Hybrid Drive RCVs: Mixing it up in Ibiza

Ibizan waste management firm HERBUSA has recently purchased the first three Geesinknorba hybrid drive refuse collection vehicles mounted on Volvo FE Hybrid chassis in Spain. But how are they fitting into its established collection system and what benefits have they brought? By Timothy Byrne Privately owned waste management firm, HERBUSA, has been collecting waste on the island of Ibiza for fifty years. The family run company originally took the name of its founder, Vicente Bufi Tur until 1980, when the name was changed to HERBUSA. The company provides environmental services on the island of Ibiza, and currently collects waste for the municipalities of Santa Eularia Des Riu, Sant Josep De Sa Talaia and Sant Joan De Labritja. These municipalities are coastal resorts and are populated by both tourists and local residents. HERBUSA provides waste and recycling collection services for between 90,000 and 100,000 people across the three municipalities, while in the summer the population swells with the arrival of thousands of tourists to around 250,000. With this influx, the production of municipal waste increases from March until August, before falling from September onwards. Waste is collected in containers ranging from 800 to 1000 litres in capacity, which are matched to rear loading refuse collection vehicles. The containers are positioned at communal collection points along the street serving both households and small businesses. The largest producers of waste, such as hotels, apartment blocks, and bars producing over 200 litres of waste a day, buy their own 1000 litre containers, which must be compliant to DIN standards so that they can be emptied on the lift of the rear loading collection vehicles. These businesses have their own collection point within their own grounds. In addition to providing municipal waste collection services, the company also provides many other services. These include street and beach cleaning, the collection of glass, paper and plastic recyclables in igloo and underground containers positioned along the streets of the municipalities, as well as the maintenance of parks and gardens through a subsidiary company called Mejoras y Servicios Pitiusos (MESPISA). This company is also involved in supplying urban furniture, traffic information signs and providing litter bin maintenance. HERBUSA also provides commercial services to industry and commerce on the island. Some of these services are commercial waste collection which includes the provision of waste containers from 800 to 1000 litre wheeled bins to larger containers of 2m3 to 20m3 capacities. Containers can be provided either on a rental basis, or purchased directly by the customer for the storage of their waste. In recent years the company has also provided commercial waste collection services to an event in the Port of Ibiza, supplying and collecting thirty 1000 litre containers. HERBUSA is also licensed to collect Maritime waste from ships, and from the Maritime industry in general. This service is known as the Marpol service, derived from the Marpol Convention of 1978 to maintain cleanliness of the seas and oceans. This waste includes sewage sludge and general waste produced by tourists and commercial traffic. The company also manages the collection of hazardous waste for all municipalities across the island of Ibiza. The hazardous waste collected includes end-of-life light bulbs, batteries, Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE), cooking oil, asbestos and plasterboard. Once collected, the WEEE is delivered to another processor on the island which processes a proportion of it while the remainder is transported to Barcelona or Valencia for processing. Volvo FE hybrid 6x2 rear steer chassis complete with Geesinknorba GPM III hybrid waste collection vehicle of 21 cubic metre capacity and with GCB 1000 bin lift for the Municipality of Santa Eularia Des Riu Going hybrid The collection service starts at 2.30am every day as the company believes that this is the best window to provide the service due to the minimal volume of traffic on the streets, as well as fewer tourists, thus helping to provide an efficient waste collection service. The company collects 60,000 tonnes of residual, commercial and recyclable waste per annum from the three municipalities it serves. To achieve this it has recently invested in three Geesinknorba GPM III hybrid waste collection vehicles complete with bin lift to empty DIN type containers from 80-1100 litres capacity. "HERBUSA needed to replace some older waste collection vehicles so, the company decided to buy three Geesinknorba GPM III hybrid waste collection vehicles mounted onto the Volvo FE hybrid three axle chassis," explains Antonio Ribas Bonet, director of HERBUSA. Specifications The Geesinknorba GPM III vehicles supplied to HERBUSA are of 21m3 capacity and features a GCB 1000 bin lift to facilitate the emptying of Din type containers from 80 to 1100 litres capacity. The lifting equipment comprises two trunnion arms and a comb lift. The hybrid Mark V version, as sold to HERBUSA, can be charged by plug in connectors which have been installed at the operator's vehicle park in Ibiza town. The three new vehicles will be recharged at the end of each collection shift so that they are ready to commence their next shift at 2.30am the following morning. The load cell batteries for the Geesinknorba range of waste collection vehicles have been specially designed for refuse collection vehicles and are claimed to be more powerful and efficient. The battery pack is 72 volt and delivers 620 amps per hour. The batteries have enough capacity to complete three collection shifts, for example, three full vehicle loads. The battery pack can run down to a level of 20% before the driver can transfer the bin lift and compaction operations over to the conventional Volvo diesel engine. The advantage of this is that it does not affect the productivity levels of the collection service. Another advantage is all round fuel savings, enabling the operator to reduce their costs. At speeds of less than 30 kph, the vehicle operates on battery power, thus producing zero emissions. Above 30 kph and the diesel engine kicks in. When not working in hybrid mode the GPM III hybrid system uses the Smartpack system, which enables control of binlift speed and other functions. It automatically senses how much pressure the system will require to lift the bin and pack the contents, thus saving fuel. The vehicles are also fitted with LED lighting which HERBUSA chose to help to save energy. The 26 tonne Volvo FE Hybrid chassis is a 6x2 rear steer chassis and is fitted with a cab that has room for a driver and two collection operatives. The chassis is powered by a conventional 340 hp Euro V Volvo engine, as well as the 200 hp electric motor which drives the hybrid system. Because of the combination of the conventional diesel engine and the electric motor, the vehicle is fitted with a heavy duty 12-speed Volvo I-Shift automatic transmission. The latest hybrid RCVs from Geesinknorba are the result are the result of several years collaboration with Volvo. The first prototype unit entered into service in Sweden in 2005. Since then, both Geesinknorba and Volvo have continued to develop the product. The RCVs supplied to HERBUSA will be supported through the Geesinknorba service network in Madrid and Barcelona. The company has also been provided with a remote control by Geesinknorba, which can be connected to the hybrid units in case there is a fault. The problem can then be downloaded by Geesinknorba technicians in Madrid or Barcelona who can identify any fault in the system and rectified. Management and representatives from HERBUSA and the municipality of Sant Josep De Sa Talaia at the presentation of their new Geesinknorba GPM III hybrid waste collection vehicle Benefits Prior to purchasing the three vehicles, HERBUSA had discussions with the three municipalities it provides services for to discuss their thoughts on hybrid waste collection vehicles. "They were keen on the idea because they believed that hybrid collection vehicles are the future of waste collection and will give a better service to both the tourists and the inhabitants in these two municipalities," says Ribas Bonet. Juan Ribas, councillor for the environment, at the Municipality of Sant Josep De Sa Talaia adds: "The new Geesinknorba hybrid waste collection vehicles are ecological, giving reduced noise levels and massive savings in fuel. The new collection vehicles will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint since." "The waste collection service in Sant Josep De Sa Talaia starts at 2.30am in the morning, so the hybrid collection vehicles will achieve reduced noise levels compared to the current diesel collection vehicles operating in the municipality," he continues. His colleague, Raul Luna, technician for environmental services, agrees and also points out that the vehicles will be the first on Ibiza. "The main global benefits to using the hybrid equipment is reduced carbon emissions, reductions in levels of carbon dioxide CO2, as well as the local benefits of reduced noise," concludes Luna. Miguel A. Morales, commercial director for Geesinknorba Spain and Portugal, adds: "Reduced fuel consumption when using the equipment and chassis in hybrid mode which gives a fuel saving of 60% and noise levels are significantly reduced as well as levels of CO2." Conclusions Geesinknorba have always utilised advanced technology, and the manufacturer says that it is keen to continue to improve its products through research and make them more environmentally friendly. That this aim is commercially successful is borne out by HERBUSA, in conjunction with the municipalities on the island of Ibiza, purchasing the first full hybrid Geesinknorba RCVs in Spain.Perhaps the larger cities in Spain will follow suit? Timothy Byrne, MCIWM chartered waste manager, ISWA international waste manager and associate member of Ategrus (Spanish Solid Waste Association).