Five of JCB’s largest wheeled loading shovel models – the 456eZX Wastemaster – are now performing green and domestic waste handling duties across Greater Manchester after being purchased in one of the highest value waste equipment deals in Europe.
The order – which includes a long term repair and maintenance contract with JCB dealer Gunn JCB - was placed by Viridor Waste (Greater Manchester) Ltd and the five machines are now in action at sites at Sharston, Salford, Rochdale, Stockport and Oldham.

Viridor operates the sites under contract from Viridor Laing (Greater Manchester) ltd (VLGM) after the signing of a 25 year Private Finance Initiative earlier this year with the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA).

The JCB models are used to load green waste into shredders and for stockpiling general household waste at the Transfer Stations across the region. The machines have been tailored to the exact requirements of Viridor with specialist waste and recycling specifications including: air-conditioning; belly, brake-pipe and cab-screen guards; a carbon air filter; a smart reverse alarm and a wide core radiator.

Viridor Waste (Greater Manchester) Ltd’s Plant Manager, John Turner said: “The JCB models were selected after a successful tender and are proving to be extremely productive and reliable in the arduous waste handling environment we operate in. This is no surprise to us, as a previous JCB model clocked up over 8,000 working hours for us in four years with very little downtime. The choice of tyres offered by JCB for the Wastemaster models is also crucial to our productivity and performance. Depending on the application we operate puncture resistant tyres or, when greater suspension is required, we use the super solid variants. We have also been impressed with the service from Gunn JCB which has always been responsive.”

The deal between VLGM and the GMWDA will trigger a £640 million construction programme creating a network of state-of-the-art recycling facilities over the next five years. The waste management project will provide a revolutionary integrated solution for the 1.3 million tonnes of municipal waste which the authority handles each year. Within the new contract Greater Manchester will be able to recycle and compost over 50% of all waste by 2015.

The latest JCB 456eZX Wastemaster wheeled loading shovel features the traditional qualities of high breakout forces and robust construction with the added benefits of sophisticated operation, a larger field of vision, increased comfort, improved performance and serviceability. The model is proving highly successful in waste transfer, MRFs, waste to energy and compost operations.