Swale Council Could Introduce Electric Bin Vans

Swale Council could invest in electric bin collection vehicles.

17:57 15 June 2021

Swale Council could soon invest in electric bin collection vehicles as part of plans to upgrade its ageing collection fleet. 

 

The council's 10-year waste and recycling contract is due to expire in October 2023 and council leaders are currently working on a more effective and efficient waste collection system. 

 

A recent survey carried out by the council found that 60per cent of residents have expressed their support for greener technology in response to the council's plans of revamping its bin service. 

 

Emma Wiggins, who is Swale council’s regeneration director, said: “It was agreed that carbon emissions were a key factor for any future contract, but affordability and cost analysis were equally important.”

 

“The desire for bringing in green technology was reflected at the area committee discussions in late 2020.

 

“In the waste survey results more than 60% of residents felt that green technology was important as part of the next contract and only 8% rated green technology as a low priority.”

 

During a council meeting last Wednesday, councillors have agreed the new contract will continue with alternate weekly collections of general waste and recycling. 

 

Cllr Julian Saunders, cabinet member for environment at the council, said: “Keeping just one container for recycling is the simplest way to encourage people to recycle.

 

“Having separate containers for glass, paper, cans and plastic adds extra complexity to the process which will discourage recycling, and our recent waste and street cleansing survey showed two thirds of people want to keep the single container.

 

“Keeping food waste collections weekly is an obvious decision as almost half of local households are using it already – we just need to encourage more of the rest to do the same as using a food waste bin is easy and it really makes a difference environmentally as your food waste produces gas for energy and fertiliser for crops.

 

“The kerbside food caddy is collected every week, but if food goes in the general waste, it’s sat there for up to two weeks – why leave it that long?”