New & Efficient Recycling Fleet To Be Introduced In Wrexham

Wrexham is to benefit from a new recycling fleet which will enhance the waste collection service for local residents.

Members of the Executive Board yesterday unanimously approved proposals to move to Resource Recovery Vehicles (RRVs) which will offer a ‘new way and different way to collect’.

Wrexham Council has a statutory target of 70% recycling and reuse by 2025 under increasing legislative and policy requirements. The proposed changes to the waste collection services will count towards these targets whilst complying with the relevant policy and legislation.

In 2002 WCBC piloted its Recycle with Michael recycling scheme to 6,000 of its households. At that time recycling rates for the borough stood at a 3%. Now the recycling rate in Wrexham County Borough is considerably higher.

Speaking about the report, Lead Member for Environment and Public Protection Cllr David Bithell said: “Our fleet is not efficient and requires replacement. There is a good story from this, the council have been successful in obtaining a grant just short of £1m to assist in this programme to replace our fleet.”

Also included in the report are proposals to carry out a review of 33 sites in Wrexham which are duplicate.

Currently, dry recyclables and food collections are carried out using a combination of combi and standard kerbside vehicles and Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCV’s). Each of the new multi stream collection options modeled include the use of modern Resource Recovery Vehicles (RRVs).

Standard RRVs are usually mounted on 12 tonne chassis and are able to load on either one or both sides as well as having an element of compaction for plastic, cans and cardboard. These basic vehicles cost c£115,000 and are typically crewed by a team of driver plus one loader.

Similar vehicles are currently used in Conwy, Chester, Anglesey, Powys, Neath and Port Talbot.

The proposals were welcomed by members of the Executive Board who also noted that residents of Wrexham should be praised for hitting the recycling target.

Cllr Joan Lowe said: “I welcome this report and think a lot of credit must go to residents. As Cllr Bithell said it will 55% this year and came from 3%. Without our residents and constituents we wouldn’t have achieved that. We must say a thank you to them for going along this journey with us and still need you to do a bit more in the future.”

Cllr Carole O’Toole added: “On the whole our residents are prepared to be engaged but need to be kept informed with what can and can’t be recycled.”

The new RRV recycling fleet is expected to be phased in from March 2016.

(Pic: Example of a RRV that we have found!)