A vehicle with a device for collecting and lifting containers and emptying the content thereof, said vehicle defining a horizontal direction of advancement and two lateral sides and said device comprising an articulated arm including: • a vertical column fixed to the vehicle in a non-articulated manner and arranged substantially centered with respect to the plane of symmetry of said vehicle; • a first segment connected to said vertical column by means of a first articulation and arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement, the axis of rotation of said first articulation being parallel to the direction of advancement, allowing the movement of the first segment in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement, the first segment being rotatable around said first articulation from a vertical position to a lateral lowered position in which it is lowered towards one lateral side or another with a freedom of movement of at least ± 60°; • a second segment arranged substantially parallel to the direction of advancement and connected without articulation to a distal end of the first segment; • a gripping device directly or indirectly connected to the second segment in an approximately distal position and configured for being coupled to a container to allow the lifting thereof; • a second articulation between the gripping device and the second segment, the axis of which is parallel to the direction of advancement, and arranged to rotate at least the gripping device, whereby the second segment can be placed on either lateral side of the vehicle by means of the rotation of the first articulation, and the second articulation allows keeping said gripping device in an angular position with respect to the vertical regardless of the angular position of the first segment; said articulated arm being actuated by hydraulically, electrically or electronically controlled actuating means resulting in a working cycle including at least the following positions: • retracted position, in which no part of said articulated arm projects from the gauge of the vehicle; • extended position, in which the articulated arm projects from the gauge of the vehicle and places the gripping device in a position coinciding vertically with a container and spaced away from same; • gripping position, in which the gripping device interferes with the container and is securely coupled thereto to allow the lifting thereof; • lifting position, in which the articulated arm lifts the container off the ground; and • emptying position, in which the container has been lifted, and its content can be emptied from the container into the collection receptacle of the vehicle. • a vertical column fixed to the vehicle in a non-articulated manner and arranged substantially centered with respect to the plane of symmetry of said vehicle; • a first segment connected to said vertical column by means of a first articulation and arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement, the axis of rotation of said first articulation being parallel to the direction of advancement, allowing the movement of the first segment in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement, the first segment being rotatable around said first articulation from a vertical position to a lateral lowered position in which it is lowered towards one lateral side or another with a freedom of movement of at least ± 60°; • a second segment arranged substantially parallel to the direction of advancement and connected without articulation to a distal end of the first segment; • a gripping device directly or indirectly connected to the second segment in an approximately distal position and configured for being coupled to a container to allow the lifting thereof; • a second articulation between the gripping device and the second segment, the axis of which is parallel to the direction of advancement, and arranged to rotate at least the gripping device, whereby the second segment can be placed on either lateral side of the vehicle by means of the rotation of the first articulation, and the second articulation allows keeping said gripping device in an angular position with respect to the vertical regardless of the angular position of the first segment; • retracted position, in which no part of said articulated arm projects from the gauge of the vehicle; • extended position, in which the articulated arm projects from the gauge of the vehicle and places the gripping device in a position coinciding vertically with a container and spaced away from same; • gripping position, in which the gripping device interferes with the container and is securely coupled thereto to allow the lifting thereof; • lifting position, in which the articulated arm lifts the container off the ground; and • emptying position, in which the container has been lifted, and its content can be emptied from the container into the collection receptacle of the vehicle.