Hambleton District Council uses Spedian quick change graphics

Hambleton District Council in North Yorkshire has introduced the Spedian reusable vehicle graphics system as a communication tool with residents.

The council has fitted the system to its new fleet of five Dennis Eagle refuse trucks which hit the streets in December.

People living in the district will see a range of key messages - including about markets in Northallerton, Thirsk, Stokesley, Easingwold and Bedale, and recycling – what can and cannot be collected at the kerbside.

A new ‘Bag It and Bin It’ campaign on dog mess - linking up with a local football team - is displayed on the sides of the waste vehicles, spreading the message to every street and corner of the district as the refuse trucks collect from 40,000 homes.

Aly Thompson, senior communications officer at Hambleton District Council said: “It is a great advertising tool as the refuse and recycling vehicles are out there all the time and are highly visible, reaching rural areas as well as towns and villages.

“We can reach a large number of residents without spending huge sums on a leaflet drop by using Spedian instead. Refuse vehicles have a high profile and are seen by many people who will – even if only subconsciously – absorb the message.”

Some of the advertising will feature the council’s ‘bin tags’ that inform people which days to put their general rubbish, green waste and recyclables out for collection.

A key advantage of the Spedian graphics system is that it can be applied in less than an hour and requires no rivets, bolts, screws, aluminium or plastic frame to be attached to the vehicle. When it is removed, it will cause no damage to the substrate.

The graphic panels can also be applied in less than an hour and, after being removed just as quickly, they can be stored for later re-use – ideal for seasonal campaigns.

Lawrence Craig, CEO of Spedian, said: “Councils are tapping into the power of advertising on their vehicles – both to spread their own messages and to create a new revenue stream by leasing the advertising space to third parties.

“We are delighted that Hambleton District Council recognises the strengths of the Spedian system which makes it easy to ring the changes with seasonal campaigns and to drive messages home.”