Winning names for Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s new environmentally friendly bin lorries

Ed Sheerbin, Gary Bineker and Stranger Bins are amongst the winning names for Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s new environmentally friendly bin lorries, revealed this week.

Earlier this year, people across the two regions were invited to submit names for the councils’ 22 brand-new bin lorries.

The two-week long competition saw over 400 individual name suggestions sent into the councils – with locals of all ages, from villages to towns, all getting in on the fun.

The councils’ crews and waste team then had the challenge of choosing just 22 – picking their favourites from a shortlist of just over 30 names.

Set to make their collection debuts in just a matter of days, the councils have now revealed the winning names: 

Ed Sheerbin, submitted by Margaret Sparkes

Gary Bineker, submitted by Gavin Pullen

Stranger Bins, submitted by Spencer Brown

Chitty Chitty Bin Bin, submitted by Belinda Betham;

The Binbetweeners, submitted by Ben Griffin;

Strictly Come Binning, submitted by Peter Batte;

Binderella, submitted by Jemima Jackson (16 or under) of Hadleigh Community Primary School;

Trashosaurus, submitted by Xavier Mack (16 or under) of Yorley Barn Nursery, Little Cornard;

Mission Binpossible, submitted by Amber Friend (16 or under) of East Bergholt VCP School;

The Binner Takes It Al, submitted by Patrick Nicholls (16 or under) of Littlegarth Nursery, Nayland;

Lord of the Bins, submitted by Lexi Underhay (16 or under)

Beauty and the Bin, submitted by Erin Millin (16 or under) of Hartismere High School;

Waste warriors, submitted by Alyse Driver, on behalf of Year 5 pupils at Wood Ley Primary School, Stowmarket;

Bin here, there, everywhere, submitted by Jake Fullam (16 or under) of Norton Primary School;

Binnie the Pooh, submitted by Trudy Jackson;

Bincredible Hulk, submitted by Jason Alexander

The Adventures of Binbin, submitted by Maxine Smith;

Binin’ in the Rain, submitted by Simon Coulson;

Bindiana Jones, submitted by Antony Price;

To Binfinity and Beyond, submitted by David John Carruthers;

Mary Popbins, submitted by Jason Alexander;

Gone with the Bin, submitted by Sarah Carruthers.

Where multiple entries of the same name were received, a winner was chosen at random. Winners will be invited to see some of the lorries in action up close, and meet crew members in early 2023 – as well as having local bragging rights when they see a lorry go past.

The competition was launched to mark the councils’ biggest upgrade to their 35-strong waste fleet in almost 10 years – an investment of £2 million.

Twenty-two  brand new environmentally friendly bin lorries, will replace many of their current lorries, having emptied around a combined 40 million bins over their working lifetimes.

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 per cent, as well as reducing other pollutants.

Elisabeth Malvisi, cabinet member for environment at Babergh District Council, said:  “We have been absolutely bowled over by the response to our competition from residents of all ages – who’ve showcased their wordplay skills. We know that many in our community anticipate the arrival of our bin crews. They carry out over 100,000 collections every week and we hope that the new lorries’ names and colourful designs will provide some light fun for everyone.

“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.”

And Jessica Fleming, cabinet member for environment at Mid Suffolk District Council, added: “The response from residents taking part in the competition has been absolutely fantastic. We never anticipated being faced with the difficult challenge of choosing just 22 names from over 400 suggestions that were put forward. 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.

“We hope that the names will provide a bit of fun for all while we carry out this vital job, which of course depends on us having a modern and reliable fleet. Keep a look out for the new lorries over coming days.”