City of London Corporation to run electric refuse trucks

The City of London Corporation will become the first UK governing body to run a full fleet of electric refuse collection vehicles following recent successful trials of the new technology.

The vehicles will form the UK’s first zero emission recycling and waste collection fleet and will collect residents’ waste and recycling in the Square Mile.

They will be operated by Veolia, who deliver the City Corporation’s recycling and waste collections, street cleansing and ancillary services operations.

The new 18-tonne and 26-tonne trucks will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, rather than diesel, and will help with the continued reduction of air pollution in the City.

The vehicles can complete a full shift on one charge and will start their first rounds this month. They are to collect an estimated 20,000 tonnes of residents’ waste and recycling in the Square Mile over the next six years.

The trucks are part of the City Corporation’s plan to ensure at least 90% of the Square Mile meets World Health Organisation guidelines for nitrogen dioxide by 2025.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Environment Committee, Keith Bottomley, said: “These new vehicles will help to further drive down air pollution in the City and improve the environment. Our fleet vehicles emitted about 400 tonnes of CO2e in 2018/19, so this change of fleet is of great significance.

“We hope this move will encourage local authorities across the country to follow suit in the urgent need to deal with toxic air.

“This pioneering fleet complements the work we’re doing to help businesses consolidate vehicle deliveries and use more hybrid models.

“Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health with up to 36,000 people dying prematurely every year in the UK.

“We will continue to take steps to ensure that we are reducing emissions from our entire vehicle fleet, for the benefit of all.”