Skip to main content

Brit garbage collectors to get iPads to aid job

garbage truckIt appears that it’s not just airline pilots and flight attendants who are being handed iPads in an effort to improve work efficiency. British garbage collectors will also be receiving them.

According to a Metro report, council officials in the town of Bury, located in north-west of England, have decided to spend nearly £9,000 ($14,700) on the popular devices.

Recommended Videos

The plan is to mount the iPads on the dashboards of Bury council’s 22 garbage trucks so that employees can easily log details of addresses that fail to recycle properly or leave their garbage cans out. The council hopes the iPads will help with collection rate efficiency, improve customer service and increase recycling.

But purchasing the tablets comes at a time when councils across the UK are facing substantial budget cuts as the country grapples with a massive deficit. Bury council, for example, is trying to find ways to save £18 million ($30 million) over the next three years. Critics of the iPad plan who think it’s a waste of money say that logging information during a collection round could be done just as easily with a pen and paper.

Head of waste management at Bury council, Glenn Stuart, defended the move. “The scheme is replacing paperwork which can get lost in cabs or get wet. Waste collection is a dirty operation,” he said, adding, “Nothing will be lost. It is captured and retained for future benefit.”

Robert Oxley, campaign manager of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, made his views clear about Bury Council’s plans. “It beggars belief that a council making huge savings can find this money to splash out on iPads. Residents want bin services that are reliable and efficient, not council staff monitoring what they’re throwing out.”

Even without the iPads, however, Bury council officials have found a way to make collections more efficient – from October it’ll be cutting garbage collections to once every two weeks, saving it £3.1 million ($5 million) in the process.

[Image courtesy of Rob Wilson / Shutterstock]

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
OnePlus Pad 2 Pro could take on iPad Pro, as new specs surface
OnePlus Stylo 2 and OnePlus Pad 2.

If you’re looking for a high-performance tablet, you have two options: the Apple iPad Pro or the upcoming OnePlus Pad 2 Pro. The latter is expected to launch as a beefier version of the OnePlus Pad 2 in just a few weeks. If the leaked specifications prove accurate, this new device could become the most powerful Android tablet to date.

According to the leaker Digital Chat Station (via Android Headlines), the OnePlus Pad 2 Pro is anticipated to feature a 13.2-inch LCD with a 3.4K resolution. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, the same processor used in the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and the OnePlus 13. Additionally, the tablet is expected to come with 16GB of RAM and offer storage options of up to 1 TB.

Read more
EU iPhone users are getting another exclusive perk with iOS 18.4
Installing iOS 18.3 update on an iPhone 16 Pro.

The iOS 18.4 update is in beta right now, and it introduces a new option for users in the EU to set a default navigation app. This means no more pesky links opening in Apple Maps when you only use Google Maps -- but it won't be available for people in the U.S.

The EU's Digital Markets Act is forcing Apple to make various changes to its services, but unfortunately not all of these perks make it over to the U.S. Apple has made it clear that it doesn't agree with a lot of the rules the EU is setting, so a lot of the time, it only makes the changes when and where it absolutely has to.

Read more
Apple iPad (2025) vs. iPad Air (2025): Which is right for you in an AI era?
iPad 2025 vs iPad Air 2025.

This year, Apple has unveiled two exciting new additions to its iPad lineup: the iPad (2025) and the iPad Air (2025). While both tablets offer impressive capabilities, they cater to distinctly different demographics and use cases. Choosing the right one for you comes down to understanding their unique features and how they align with your needs.

Ultimately, both options bring something unique to the table, catering to a range of consumers. Assessing your specific needs will help you determine which iPad is the right fit for you. Whether you prioritize price, portability, or power, Apple’s latest offerings have you covered.
Apple iPad (2025) vs. iPad Air (2025): specs

Read more