The UK’s biggest eco-friendly fleet of refuse vehicles is about to hit the streets of Liverpool.
The 20 strong fleet will help to radically cut Liverpool City Council’s carbon footprint powered by Biomethane, a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Producing 80 per cent fewer carbon emissions and 90 per cent less Nitrogen Oxide than the previous diesel vehicles, each new wagon will cover more than 150,000 miles a year.
The vehicles each have a Mercedes-Benz Econic chassis with Faun Zoeller Variopress body, a load capacity of up to 10.5 tonnes and a rear steering axle to easily manoeuvre narrow streets.
The new CNG vehicles are part of a drive to improve the collection and recycling of household waste across the city to help reach a target of recycling more than 55 per cent of waste.
Liverpool Streetscene Services Ltd (LSSL), a subsidiary of Liverpool City Council, has invested £3.4 million in the wagons.
A CNG station has been installed at LSSL’s refuse collection depot – and the new vehicles cost 35 per cent less in fuel costs compared to like-for-like diesel vehicles.
Crews have improved working conditions with less noise, vibration and air pollution. They have low cab entry and various features making them safer and easier to use.
The eco-friendly fleet is being specially wrapped with promotional material, designed by the council’s in-house marketing team, with messages about how best to tackle climate change.
The purchase follows the recent announcement that Liverpool is on course to meet its climate change targets – three years ahead of schedule.
According to recent government statistics, the city has already achieved an 18 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 2012 and is on course to hit 35 per cent by the end of 2020.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “This investment in a new fleet of refuse vehicles is a great statement of intent in our goal to make Liverpool a cleaner and greener city.
“The council inherited a tired and run down fleet which was inefficient, unreliable and costly. Having a brand new refuse fleet that is bigger, more efficient and safer gives our collection teams the right tools to ensure residents receive a more reliable service.
“However, we still need residents to take action by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste enable us to hit our targets and reduce the costs to them.’’
The city council is also pressing ahead with a series of initiatives to continue the drive to a “Low Carbon Liverpool” by setting an increased carbon reduction target by 2030.
This includes an electric street cleansing fleet, promoting use of electric taxis, introducing more LED street lighting and creating a new bus hub in Liverpool city centre – all of which is estimated to take a combined 5,000 tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere annually.
The city council is also greening the city – having recently won funding to plant 750 new urban trees across the city over the next two years and is currently planting the first wave of 150 trees in the city centre with a sustainable drainage system to reduce surface flooding. New cycle lanes are being created and the council is currently working on a business case to DEFRA which looks at the option of introducing a Clean Air Zone that will charge the highest polluting vehicles
