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HRM Sucking It Up When It Comes to Litter in Downtown Core
(Friday, September 2/05)-- Halifax Regional Municipality has a new weapon in its war against litter in the downtown core.
HRM staff demonstrated a new all-terrain litter vacuum at Grand Parade this morning, that is capable of picking up glass, metal, plastic, cardboard and other wet or dry waste. It can vacuum an area roughly the size of a football field in one-half hour.
Councillor Dawn Sloane (District 12-Halifax Downtown) said “This is a great machine, but we really wouldn’t need it if everyone did their part to prevent litter. If people didn’t litter, we wouldn’t have to be buying machines to clean up their mess. Keeping our community clean is everybody’s business.”
The supervac’s coverage rate per hour is 105, 600 cubic feet or 9,810 square metres. That adds up to between four and six large bags of litter and other debris collected in an eight hour shift.
The wide-tired vehicle is easily manoeuvrable and can vacuum around light posts, newspaper racks, and other obstacles on sidewalks or in parks. Its advanced ergonomics include power/tilt steering and a standard roll-over protection system to protect the operator.
It comes with a 15-foot extension hose to clean under benches, near building entrances and in other hard-to- reach areas. The machine has a 48-inch vacuum head at the front and its filtered collection bag should reduce dust around sidewalk cafes, restaurants and pedestrian ways. The purchase price of the vehicle is $44,000 + tax.
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John O’Brien
Manager, Corporate Communications
490-6531