Robotic arm will help Fredericton garbage collectors

Fredericton garbage collectors are getting a helping hand with their job for the next two weeks during a pilot project where a robotic arm will be used to lift trash bins.

The city has borrowed a truck with a robotic arm from Saunders Equipment and will use it for the next two weeks to pick up trash in the Brookside Drive and St. Mary's Street areas.

Coun. Greg Ericson, the chair of the public safety and environment committee, said the pilot project should not lead to any layoffs of garbage collectors.

Instead, it will help them out.

"What it will mean for workers is that they will be able to work without fear of workplace injury because back problems and other strains are very common in this profession, associated with heavy lifting of unknown loads," Ericson said.

Residents in the pilot area will be getting free Trius garbage bins to help with the two-week pilot project.

The experiment will assess the potential efficiencies and benefits of automated garbage collection.