The City of London will be a cleaner and greener place in 2012 as six new hybrid electric waste collection vehicles hit the streets of the Square Mile. The six vehicles joined the City of London Corporation's recycling and waste management operation in December and will play a significant part in the City's role in managing waste and street cleansing during the 2012 Olympics.
The fleet will have a positive effect on local air quality by achieving huge reductions in carbon emissions compared to the older diesel models. The innovative split compartment design also allows waste collection vehicles greater efficiency of service by collecting waste and recycling simultaneously.
All six award-winning vehicles are 15m split-bodies from Geesinknorba's MF range for multifraction collections and are the first hybrid Plug-in Electric vehicles to be ordered in the UK.
Using the latest 'mark 5 Plug-in Electric technology' on a diesel powered chassis makes this the most fuel-efficient fleet in the UK. In fact the City of London Corporation can expect to achieve fuel savings in excess of 20% at a time when fuel prices are soaring nationally.
John Tomlinson, Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Port Health and Community Services Committee, said: “This is a great demonstration of the City of London Corporation's continued commitment to providing environmentally friendly services whilst ensuring best value for our businesses and residents. 2012 will be a demanding year for London and the introduction of these vehicles demonstrates that the City of London Corporation is right at the forefront of modern waste-management policy.”
As well as being at the heart of Britain's business and financial community, the City of London attracts thousands of tourists and other visitors every day. The City's streets - which have been voted the cleanest in Britain by the British Cleaning Council - are kept that way by one of the most comprehensive and responsive public cleansing operations in the world. The City of London offers a 24 hours a day, 364 days a year service covering street sweeping, waste collection, technical advice on waste management and the operation of the most modern waste transfer station in the South East of England.
