The first of a new £6.5 million pound fleet of waste and recycling trucks will set out this week - ahead of schedule - marking the start of improved collections in southern Oxfordshire.
Residents will begin to see some of the new trucks out collecting their recycling from today (14 August).
These are the first of an entire new fleet of vehicles to provide improved waste and recycling collections for all 115,000 households across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse, replacing old trucks that have become unreliable.
The new trucks are covered in eye-catching designs promoting recycling messages.
Cllr Matthew Barber, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “There have been issues with the current vehicles affecting some collections in recent weeks and we’d once again like to apologise for this. It is, however, fantastic to see a £6.5 million investment in a whole new fleet and we are extremely pleased that the first of the vehicles have arrived and will be in action ahead of schedule.
“This is something we have been pressing for and, with more vehicles on their way next month, the entire fleet is set to be in place by early autumn which is good news for our residents.”
With the introduction of the new fleet, there will be a change to the way waste, recycling and rubbish is collected. At present, food waste and recycling is collected in separate compartments within the same truck.
When the new fleet is in place, these collections will be carried out by two separate vehicles – one for food waste, another for recycling or rubbish. This will not affect residents’ collection days or the way they use their bins.
Cllr Charlotte Dickson, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for waste, said: “We are delighted that the new trucks are arriving and being put straight into use, helping to relieve the strain on the old vehicles that have reached the end of their life.
“We are looking forward to having the new fleet fully in place by the autumn and are confident this will provide an improved service that is more efficient with the changes being made to the way collections are carried out.
“We would like to thank residents for their patience during recent episodes of disruption and for their continuing commitment to recycling.”
A Biffa spokesperson added: “We’re delighted to get the new vehicles, which should help make a real difference to the waste services that residents in Vale of White Horse expect and deserve.”
Residents can stay informed about waste and recycling collections via the councils’ websites and are reminded of the change to collection days following the Bank Holiday on Monday 28 August. See www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/recycling