Narrow streets and city centres

When a full-size vehicle does not pay off

Not all routes suit a full-size waste collection vehicle. In sparsely populated areas, the distance between subscribers can be so great that running a 26-tonne truck with 2.5-metre width between collection points is uneconomical. Narrow farm roads, steep forest roads with no turning space and private access roads requiring four-wheel drive make matters even more challenging. In many cases it is simply cheaper and more efficient to use a smaller vehicle.

The same applies in dense residential areas with narrow driveways, steep hills and tight housing – especially in winter when ploughing makes the roads even narrower.

Satellite vehicles and compact waste collection trucks

A compact waste collection vehicle can be used in two ways: as a standalone truck on routes with low volumes and long distances, or as a satellite vehicle paired with a larger receiver truck. In satellite mode, the compact truck drives the route and empties its load into the receiver at a central point – typically a couple of times per round. This allows one receiver truck to serve several satellites simultaneously.

With four-wheel drive and low gross vehicle weight, these trucks reach places where full-size vehicles cannot – or should not – operate. This makes them particularly suitable for cabin-area collection, scattered settlements and routes with difficult topography.

Orus in the Terberg Environmental portfolio

The Orus series is manufactured in Italy and marketed as part of the Terberg Environmental portfolio. The range covers everything from the smallest satellite vehicles to mid-size rear loaders that handle Nordic winters and demanding terrain. Orus TP is Terberg’s compact solution for segregated collection — we can expand with more product detail later; see the overview at Orus series.

If you need a compact Olympus rear loader rather than the satellite concept, see Olympus Mini.

Steco offers three model series in the Orus portfolio:

QUBE — the flagship in the segment

QUBE is the most versatile model in the range, with body sizes from 3.5 to 7 m³. It can be mounted on chassis from 2.1 to 7.5 tonnes GVW — for example the Iveco Daily, which is also available with four-wheel drive for demanding routes.

ERRE — more volume where the route requires it

ERRE fills the gap between QUBE and a full-size rear loader, with volumes from 7 to 14 m³ on chassis from 7.5 tonnes. Suitable where volumes are too large for a QUBE but the route is still too narrow, steep or long for a heavy waste collection vehicle.

MULTI and MULTISIDE — source separation in narrow streets

The MULTI series handles two to three waste fractions in a single trip. Suitable where the municipality wants to offer source separation even on routes with scattered settlements or difficult access — without doubling the number of trips.

Lower operating costs, better coverage

A compact waste collection vehicle is cheaper to operate than a full-size one — lower fuel consumption, lighter chassis and less wear on roads not designed for heavy traffic. For routes with low subscriber density, cabin areas, forest roads and steep hills, it provides more rational operations. At the same time, residents and cabin owners avoid carrying waste long distances to a collection point, resulting in better service and higher sorting rates.

The chassis can be supplied with diesel, CNG or electric drivetrains, allowing the operator to choose what best suits the route and local requirements.