Sidcon active in Europe

Sidcon may be expanding in the Netherlands, but on the international market too, cities have started discovering our underground compactors. Increasingly, Sidcon compactors are becoming part of the street scene in places like Cannes, Copenhagen and Bergen (in Norway). Each of these “smart cities” involved attach a great deal of value to a modern, efficient and sustainable way of collecting waste. And whilst these cities all share this common value, the thinking behind it is very different.

Cannes: from 7 times a day to once every 2 weeks

In summer, Cannes is flooded with visitors, and trash. Waste trucks used to drive up to 7x a day through the busy Rue Félix Faure. Thanks to our compactors, it is now only once every 2 weeks. The street now has 4 underground containers (2 for residual waste, 2 for plastic) that can handle up to 10 times more waste. This makes a big difference in transport costs and ensures much less inconvenience between the cozy restaurants. Their installation is a national premiere for Cannes. Reason enough for its enthusiast mayor, David Lisnard, to officially introduce the first compactor for use in the city against a festive backdrop.

Bergen: cost savings due to fewer collections

Things are slightly less busy in Norway, but there, longer pick-up distances for waste collection mean higher collection costs. For that reason, in 2018, the city of Bergen opted to install underground compactors. Having 10x more waste capacity and fewer collections was the major appeal for the municipality. As a result, Norwegian waste-collection companies now need to make fewer journeys. Not only does this mean big cost savings, it is more efficient and considerably more sustainable with fewer carbon emissions too. Sidcon supplied and installed the compactors for general household waste and packaging in collaboration with Norway-based Stromberg Plast. Use of the same Metro design for the pillars created an attractive uniform appearance.

Copenhagen: disposing of low-threshold waste

In Copenhagen, our underground compactor for residual waste was purchased by housing cooperative FSB. Residents of the apartments can deposit their waste here. Copenhagen Municipality empties the container once a week. It is then on average 80% full. Without an internal compacting mechanism, the cooperative would need 4 containers or much more frequent emptying. Now the waste is compressed automatically, so the municipality needs fewer containers.

“Underground containers for the collection of household waste are widespread in the Netherlands. The idea is really quite simple: a stylishly designed pillar for waste disposal above the ground and a concealed container under the pavement''

Smart Cities

Whereas these countries are still getting accustomed to the system, Sidcon has already been making major inroads on the Dutch market. Cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht have installed hundreds of underground compactors in their public spaces. “Underground containers for the collection of household waste are widespread in the Netherlands. The idea is really quite simple: a stylishly designed pillar for waste disposal above the ground and a concealed container under the pavement. They are a common feature on streets throughout the Netherlands. Nevertheless, the compactor version is a relatively new innovation,” explains managing director Reinier Siderius.

Sidcon underground compactors fit in with the principle of Smart Cities. Their smart technology can help improve the quality of life in cities. The fill-level of the container, peak times, number of drops, for example, are monitored by sensors automatically and all data can be read remotely. In combination with a route optimisation system, containers can be efficiently emptied, avoiding unnecessary trips or waste overflows because the container is full. The streets remain clean and tidy.

The pillars are aesthetically designed and can also be adapted to the colour and branding of existing street furniture. The container itself is hidden from view underground and is safeguarded by means of an automatic “trapdoor opening” during emptying operations. One special feature of the compactor is that it is bottom-emptying. This means that the container can be emptied directly above the waste collection truck so that most waste can be removed in just one journey. The bottom-emptying compactor is an invention of Sidcon and is patent-protected.