Competition launched to name brand new environmentally friendly 22 bin lorries

Residents are being given the chance to name their new 22 brand bin lorries as part of a competition.

From today, October 31, people across Babergh and Mid Suffolk can take part with the closing date set for the end of November.

The new lorries – a £2m investment by the councils – will replace many of their current vehiu, having emptied around a combined 40 million bins over their working lifetimes.

The competition launches to mark the councils’ biggest upgrade to their 35-strong waste fleet in almost 10 years.

 The new lorries are set to hit the roads later this winter. They will be fuelled by certified sustainable Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) produced from waste cooking oil, after Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils became the first rural UK councils to switch to the fuel last year. This will enable them to continue slashing their carbon emissions by up to 90%, as well as reducing other pollutants.

The councils hope the competition will inspire residents to get creative with wordplay. They will especially be on the lookout for fun and humorous names that combine recycling and waste-related words with references to films, celebrities and more.

 Residents of all ages can submit their name ideas via the councils’ website atwww.babergh.gov.uk/binlorrycompetition or www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/binlorrycompetition. A parent or guardian will need to submit suggestions on behalf of children under 16.

Elisabeth Malvisi, cabinet member for environment at Babergh District Council, said:  “Collecting your bin is one of our most visible jobs. And, as you’d expect, having a modern and reliable fleet is essential. The lorries are also playing a key role in reducing our carbon emissions after we became the first rural councils in the UK to use HVO fuel last year.

“We know how much our crews’ arrival is anticipated by many each week. So, what better way to get residents involved than by inviting them to have a bit of fun naming the bin lorries that pass their doors, doing over 100,000 collections every week.”

And Jessica Fleming, cabinet member for environment at Mid Suffolk District Council, added: “Whether you’re your street’s binfluencer or one of our youngest residents eagerly awaiting the lorries’ arrival every week – bin collections matter to everyone across our districts. To make sure we can carry out this vital job, we need a modern and reliable fleet, and the arrival of 22 new lorries will mark our biggest vehicle upgrade in almost 10 years.

“We hope this competition is a fun way for our residents to join in and get creative by naming the lorries they see around the district every week.”