Innovating Municipal Waste Collection with the 3 STOP Castor
LIV Systems Unveils the 3 STOP Castor: A Breakthrough in Municipal Waste Collection
At LIV Systems, we are proud to be Europe’s leading manufacturer of waste bin castors. By listening closely to the daily challenges waste collectors face every day, we developed the 3 STOP castor-a smart innovation that makes collection faster, reduces operator strain, and raises the standard for safety and efficiency in urban waste management.
The Challenge: Why Standard Castors Slow Down Waste Collection ?
Municipal waste collection across Europe relies primarily on standard 660L and 1100L four-wheeled waste bins. Around 90% of these containers are equipped with two swivel castors and two pedal brake castors. Securing containers safely, particularly on uneven ground, is essential to ensure operator safety and operational efficiency.
However, with standard pedal brake castors, the brake pedal often ends up in an unfavorable position beneath the container. This makes it difficult for operators to reach and engage the brake. In practice, operators must frequently push or pull the container into a different position just to access the brake.
This situation creates several challenges:
- Increased physical strain for operators.
- Longer collection times.
- Higher risk of injury.
- Operator dissatisfaction.
- Containers sometimes left unsecured.
The Solution: The 3 STOP Castor
In response, LIV Systems developed the 3 STOP castor, a compact and smart upgrade of existing castor designs. Its innovation lies in three evenly spaced brake pedals around the wheel - ensuring that no matter how the bin is maneuvered, at least one brake pedal is always accessible.
Advantages of the 3 STOP Castor
- Braking from any direction – no need to reposition the bin.
- Reduced strain – less physical effort for operators.
- Requires less force – easier to engage and disengage than standard brakes.
- Improved ergonomics and safety – minimizes risk of injury.
- Faster, more ergonomic process – reduces interruptions during collection.
- Easy to adopt – intuitive use with no special training required.
- High-value upgrade – fully compatible with standard 660L and 1100L bins, using the same mounting method as traditional wheels.
Field Testing with Publikus
LIV Systems partnered with Publikus, one of the largest waste collection companies in Slovenia, to test the 3 STOP castor in real-world conditions.
“Our operators simply love the 3 STOP. We intend to equip all our new containers with these castors and even retrofit existing ones. With less time needed for collection, we can cover more areas in the same time, which is crucial for us.”
Igor Petek, Managing Director, Publikus
The testing confirmed significant improvements in operator satisfaction, safety, and collection efficiency.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
LIV Systems has patented the 3 STOP castor to protect this simple yet highly functional innovation. With over €10 million invested in new technologies and equipment in the past two years, LIV Systems continues to reinforce its position as the market leader in castor solutions for waste collection.
By making waste collection faster, safer, and more efficient, the 3 STOP castor represents a breakthrough in everyday urban waste management.