Middlesbrough Council Trials All-Electric Street Cleaning Machine

Middlesbrough Council is trialling a cutting-edge street cleaning machine as part of efforts to improve street and pavement cleanliness across the borough.

The local authority has taken delivery of a Glutton H₂O Perfect, an innovative all-electric street cleaning machine supplied by Bradshaw EV, the exclusive UK distributor for the Glutton range.

Combining powerful vacuum technology with an integrated medium-pressure water jet, the Glutton H₂O Perfect is designed to collect litter while also tackling stubborn dirt, stains and grime from streets, pavements and public spaces in a single operation.

Equipped with a 240-litre waste container, advanced dust filtration system and a 60-litre onboard water tank, the machine can effectively remove everything from everyday litter to chewing gum residue, bird droppings and other ingrained debris, while operating quietly with zero tailpipe emissions.

The self-propelled machine is designed to reduce physical strain on operatives, improve productivity and deliver a cleaner urban environment.

Designed and manufactured in Belgium by Glutton, it is already being used in towns and cities across 80 countries worldwide.

Over the coming months, Middlesbrough Council will put the Glutton H₂O Perfect through its paces by evaluating its effectiveness across the town’s centre and key shopping areas, with the potential to invest in additional machines if the trial proves successful.

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said:

We’re always looking for ways to be cleaner and greener, and the Glutton is a 21st century take on the traditional ‘bin and broom’ approach to street cleaning.

“This innovative solution will help to make our town centre cleaner, tidier and more attractive to visitors.

Councillor Peter Gavigan, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability, added:

The Glutton is an eco-friendly system that reduces physical strain on the operative and enables them to cover large areas more quickly and effectively.

“If the trial proves successful, I hope these innovative machines will become a common sight across the town.

Ramsy Labassi, Managing Director of Bradshaw EV, said:

The way local authorities approach street cleaning is evolving at pace, with councils now actively exploring new and innovative solutions to enhance how they maintain their public spaces.

“The Glutton H₂O has been designed to support this evolution, namely by helping operatives cover larger areas more effectively and sustainably, while reducing the physical demands of traditional cleaning methods.

“Keeping our towns and cities clean is a priority shared by councils across the UK.

“By taking the Glutton H₂O Perfect Middlesbrough Council is very much leading the charge of this movement and we hope that this encourages other local authorities to look at how modern technology can help frontline teams deliver cleaner public spaces, in a much more efficient manner, in the years ahead.

Picture: Community Caretaker Adam Ineson (centre) puts the Glutton H₂O through its paces in Centre Square watched by Councillor Peter Gavigan, Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability (L) and Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke