New bin lorries and road sweepers coming to Harborough
A new fleet of bin lorries and road sweepers will soon be on the streets on Harborough.
The 14 waste collection vehicles and two street cleaning vehicles have been funded through Harborough District Council’s approved capital programme and are set to replace what has been described as “ageing operational equipment”.
The council says the new fleet should improve reliability, reduce maintenance requirements and support the day-to-day delivery of these services across the area.
The fleet of bin lorries from Dennis Eagle consists of one 18-tonne rural vehicle, six 26-tonne collection vehicles, one 26-tonne trade waste collection vehicle and six 32-tonne collection vehicles.
Two Scarab sweepers have been added to the fleet of street cleaning vehicles - one compact mechanical sweeper, and one chassis-mounted large mechanical sweeper, while an additional large mechanical sweeper is due to arrive within the next month.
The district council says the new fleet is diesel-powered, as a fully electric fleet is ‘not a viable option’ due to the geographical size of the district.
But the authority says the new refuse collection vehicles have been fitted with electric lifting equipment, in a move designed to reduce the need for a diesel engine to power lifting operations.
Members of Harborough District Youth Council were asked to name the new fleet, including the names of animals native to the area.
Chosen names for the fleet include William the Woodpecker, Freddie the Fox, Alfie the Adder, Hannah the Hedgehog and Barry the Bat.
David Page, cabinet lead for neighbourhood services at Harborough District Council, said: “Waste collection and street cleansing are among the services residents rely on every day, and it is important that we have the right equipment in place to deliver them effectively.
“Following a change of administration earlier this year, additional budget provision has been made to provide further investment into the fleet to fully meet the needs and priorities of neighbourhoods across the district.
“This investment will support the continued delivery of these essential services and provide our operational teams with modern vehicles that are fit for purpose for many years to come.”