The fleet, which Biffa says is part of a £10 million investment from the council, will be used on household and municipal waste collection routes.
According to Biffa, it is the “largest zero emission fleet in the UK”, and Manchester city council is one of the first local authorities to transform its refuse collection fleet this way.
The electric refuse vehicles will be quieter but “just as cost efficient” to run as diesel vehicles, and will be able to complete a full shift on one charge.
Biffa has held the waste and recycling collections contract with Manchester city council since 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story).
🔌⚡She's Electric!
In partnership with @ManCityCouncil, the UK's largest fleet of electric, zero-emission vehicles are being rolled out, collecting household waste in the #Manchester area. This is a major step towards reaching our net-zero emissions target 🌍💛 #electricvehicle pic.twitter.com/YARdU8ehws
— Biffa (@Biffa) March 8, 2021
‘Largest ever’
Michael Topham, chief executive at Biffa, said: “We are delighted to be launching the UK’s largest ever fleet of
“We are confident this is just the start and we will see many more electric vehicles in action across the country in coming years”
electric refuse collection vehicles and supporting one of the UK’s top cities to become even greener. Biffa has a longstanding partnership with Manchester city council, and we are committed to helping the city to halve its direct emissions by 2025″.
He continued: “We are confident this is just the start and we will see many more electric vehicles in action across the country in coming years”.
‘Significant progress’
The council says the move marks “significant progress” against its zero-carbon action plan, which aims to halve its direct emissions by 2025 and make the city carbon free by 2038.
The launch also marks a “major step” in Biffa’s aims to “be at the forefront” of sustainable vehicle technology, and its sustainability strategy.
Phasing out diesel- powered collection vehicles is also considered a “key part” of reaching the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target.
Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, executive member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We’re proud that Manchester city council, working with Biffa, has made the most significant investment of any council in emission-free refuse collection vehicles and that the waste and recycling service is playing its part in binning pollution.”
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