A NEW £1.56 million fleet of lorries took to the road for the first time last week to collect refuse and garden waste from Forest homes.

Complete with new safety features, the 11 trucks will be expected to operate for the next six years, making close on a million collections each, and covering 20,000 miles a year.

The fleet forms part of the contractual agreement between the Forest of Dean Council and its current waste services provider Biffa, and the trucks carry fresh livery, with the refuse vehicles displaying a number of key messages to remind residents of the value of those everyday items that can be easily recycled at the kerbside and not to let them “go to waste.” 

Councillor Chris McFarling, Forest Council Cabinet member for the environment said: “The vehicles have been procured under the terms of the contract with Biffa which delivers the recycling and refuse collections on behalf of the district council. 

“Given the high mileage these sorts of vehicles cover, it is normal in waste contracts for the fleet be renewed after a period of around six years.

“While the current vehicles are maintained regularly and Biffa has its own workshop at the Cinderford depot to deal with most general repairs, after so many miles on the clock along with the wear and tear on both the vehicles and the on-board lifting equipment, it is inevitable that vehicles will become less reliable and need to be replaced in time. 

“To provide an uninterrupted service to our residents and to prevent issues such as leachate, garden and refuse vehicles must be fit for purpose and we are delighted that the new fleet will be out collecting once crews have been thoroughly trained.”

He continued: “We are using the new livery on the refuse trucks to remind residents about just a few of the benefits that recycling brings to make everyone think twice before throwing their rubbish out. 

“For instance, recycling just a single metal drinks’ can could save enough energy to power a television for four hours - however, once consigned to the refuse bin all that potential may be lost for good. 

“Therefore every item that could be recycled really does matter and has a real value.”