O’Donovan Waste Disposal is deploying noise-dampening skip chain covers across its fleet to enable quieter HGV movements in residential areas.

The London-based operator said the introduction of the new covers – made from woven canvas - has resulted in a 20% decrease in noise levels from its skip lorries.

A regular skip lorry creates, on average, noise levels reaching 85db according to O’Donovan; whereas the same vehicle with chain covers has been recorded at just 65db from two metres away.

O’Donovan delivers and retrieves skips each day as part of its services, and while it says local council restrictions pose significant challenges, aims to ensure deliveries are as unobtrusive as possible.

The skip chain cover initiative was rolled out by O’Donovan as part of its work in TfL’s Retiming Deliveries work group.

MD Jacqueline O’Donovan said: “While it’s vital that we maintain our exceptional customer service levels, respecting the local community remains a priority for us.

"We are conscious that noise levels can disrupt local communities and we believe this is a great solution for all parties," she added.

Gloria Elliott, CEO, Noise Abatement Society, said: “Skip removal can have one of the noisiest environmental impacts on the community – so it is really heartening to see O’Donovan’s waste company introducing a measure to reduce the loud and intrusive noise of clanging metal skip chains.

“The Noise Abatement Society congratulates O’Donovan’s for taking responsible measures to improve the aural environment, a shining example for other waste companies to emulate”.

O'Donovan also recently introduced a new sheeting system to improve driver visibility.

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