Kerbside loading recycling vehicles do not have a reputation for high utilisation - or maximum payloads. But that‘s hardly surprising considering that they are designed to lift and load lightweight materials such as paper, aluminium cans and plastics in small quantities on multi-stop collections from domestic premisses. There is another factor, too - like many ideas developed on the American continent, the kerbside loading concept, perfect for spacious mid-west suburbs, needed some adjustment for wider European use - or indeed anywhere else with greater housing density. As a part of this transition, European units can be found mounted on high specification, low entry cabs chassis - just like conventional compaction-type RCVs - instead of the budget normal control truck chassis found in North American operations. But now? Well, it could be argued that the next phase of the kerbside loading concept is here, following the launch of the ‘Maximizer‘ option introduced last year by Canadian manufacturer, Labrie. There are a couple of strings to this story - the first is that after a culturally natural (considering the shared use of the French language), but commercially less than dramatic European launch based on France, a renewed initiative with Northern Irish-based BMI Trailers is creating interest in the ‘Maximizer‘ option. Already in the UK, the town of Daventry - one of the first users of kerbside loading units in the UK - is replacing a fleet of existing conventional kerbside recyclers of another brand, with Maximizer-equipped Labrie units. These are based on on Dennis ‘Phoenix‘ 4x2 chassis, but BMI boss Brendan McIllvanna suggests there‘s a further stage of development to come. "Our new demonstration unit is based on a three axle Mercedes ‘Econic‘ chassis, as using the ‘Maximizer‘ payloads can exceed those legally allowed on a 4x2 chassis," he explains. With some competitive units typically only managing loads of three or four tonnes, that is significant enough, from a utilisation standpoint, but Brendan has more. "Several of our customers have asked about the possibility of adding a dedicated, leachate-proof compartment for the collection of foodwaste on a kerbsider, so we‘ve added such an option and suggest it‘s an ideal solution as the collection speed is more in tune with recycling than it is with normal domestic waste collection," he adds. The Maximizer - which is a hydraulically-activated hollow bulkhead containing two non-compacting compartments - moves in a front/rear axis, compacting materials in the two outer compartments. BMI is hoping that the increased payloads and reduced tonne/mile figures resulting from the Maximizer option will finally help put its Canadian connection on the map. www.bmitrailers.com