Did you know that your waste and recycling collection service can collect data on how much you recycle to help them improve and meet Government targets?

Have you thought about the technology that could be in the cab of your local collection lorry?

Vinnie and Jamie talk about how digital skills are becoming more central to their job role as loaders for RCT Waste Services.

Vinnie is in his 40s and uses digital skills for accessing goods and services at home. He uses social media cautiously with his friends and doesn’t give much away about his personal life. But he uses Twitter very successfully to share his interest in music and to promote 90s music and DJs to a much wider network of enthusiasts.

30 something Jamie likes his privacy and is not on many social media sites, but he does his shopping, holiday bookings and uses other services online. He doesn’t use social media but he understands digital wellbeing and supports his family, making sure they are safe.

Vinnie and Jamie agree that digital skills are becoming more important in their jobs and data collection is changing the way that waste and recycling workers train, operate and communicate.

Each collection lorry has a tablet in the cab so the team can record incidents. These might include a household where the bin has not been put out, a bin containing the wrong items or contaminated food waste or recycling.

Crews have to know how to use the technology so anyone on the lorry can enter the data, and the council can ensure the most accurate records possible. Dispute settlements may depend on good quality data and comprehensive records.

Data collected by bin lorries does not only reflect incidents that happen on the rounds. Routes, times, schedules and delays are all recorded and are used to inform planning and service improvement to residents of RCT. Environmental issues like air pollution and fuel use will become more important.

Vinnie and Jamie think they will need more digital skills as lorries come to rely on more technology to issue and receive communications.  If they want to improve their job prospects they know that digital know-how will be vital. Vinnie says he doesn’t want to get left behind and Jamie declares

‘Digital skills – they should make you do it!’

Thanks to Safe and Secure Training and Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC

Contact esther.barrett@jisc.ac.uk for more about employability and digital skills