As a council, we’re committed to helping tackle the climate emergency and are actively looking for new and creative ways to reduce our carbon emissions.
As part of our commitment, we’ve already installed several electric charge points at car parks across the county borough, as well as investing in a small fleet of five electric cars used by our staff.
And we’re now trialling an electric refuse vehicle as part of our ongoing focus of reducing our carbon emissions.
Cleaner and less noisy
Diesel vehicles that currently collect recycling and waste across Wrexham County Borough are among the largest emitters of CO2 within the council’s fleet.
The electric refuse vehicle on trial has in fact been refurbished and up-cycled from a diesel engine vehicle.
So we’re eager to pilot the use of an electric refuse vehicle which – if successful – could offer a zero-emission waste collection service.
Electric vehicles prevent harmful exhaust fumes such as oxides of nitrogen being emitted into the air, contributing to better air quality for all.
This is especially beneficial to collection operatives working beside the vehicle daily.
Diesel engines are also a source of noise pollution in residential areas, and electric vehicles are significantly quieter than their diesel counterparts.
They also have lower running costs compared with a diesel refuse vehicles.
Positive step
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Councillor David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’ve been awarded a Welsh Government grant of £155k that will be spent on the purchase of an electric vehicle.
“The addition of an electric refuse vehicle to our fleet will be positive environmental step.
“With the population of Wrexham expected to continue to grow over the next few years, and thereby increasing the overall waste produced, the council constantly strives to improve its recycling rate and to lower its own impact on the environment”.
Council Leader Cllr Mark Pritchard added: “Wrexham residents consistently achieve high recycling rates, and as a council we’re always looking for ways to improve our recycling and waste collection services, while reducing our impact on the environment”.
“If the pilot proves successful, you could soon have your waste collected by an electric refuse vehicle, instead of a diesel one.”
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