Drivers in 10 cities are hearing a sober-minded message while listening to their favorite wild and wacky morning drive-time radio programs. Earlier this week, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) began airing radio ads urging motorists to exercise extra caution when maneuvering around garbage trucks. The 30-second ads - which are airing in Allentown, Pa.; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Dayton, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Greenville, S.C.; Louisville, Ky.; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va; and Washington, D.C. - are part of NSWMA’s “Slow Down to Get Around” safety awareness program.
The ads began airing in the above-mentioned markets on Jan. 14 and will continue for three weeks. “A substantial number of struck-by accidents in which a motorist runs into a garbage collector take place during the morning commute hours, when motorists are often rushing to work or bringing children to school,” said David Biderman, general counsel for NSWMA, in the press release announcing the radio campaign.
Keeping workers safe is an issue of growing emphasis in the solid waste industry. In the January issue of Waste Age, we examine the various ways in which haulers are working to reduce the risks faced by their employees. We would love to hear your suggested topics for future safety stories.
To hear the “Slow Down to Get Around” ad, visit www.nswma.org.
Generally, the goal is to spend as little time in the back of a garbage truck as possible. So it takes a considerable leap in logic to imagine living in one. Nevertheless, courtesy of German custom offroad vehicle manufacturer TerraCross, we have what is, for all intents and purposes, a garbage truck modded into a quite striking recreational vehicle called the “Home on Wheels.”
The interior is tastefully appointed, bringing to mind a rather unlikely IKEA installation. But if the Danish modern design motif doesn’t work for you, you could always just fire up the compactor and start over.
