Council unveils first fully electric bin lorry

Councillors Mark Ieronimo and Charles Quinn hope the new vehicle will make the authority more sustainable

An electric bin lorry has been added to a council's fleet to make its waste management service "more sustainable".

Hull City Council said it had introduced the vehicle to tackle climate change and improve air quality in the city.

It is part of a phased replacement programme by the authority to replace older vehicles with electric alternatives.

"Every electric vehicle we add to our fleet is a step towards improving the air we breathe and reducing our impact on the planet," said councillor Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment.

He added the new vehicle would help "create a more sustainable Hull" for future generations.

The council said fleet vehicles were its second largest source of carbon emissions, so transitioning to electric vehicles would play "a vital role in reducing the organisation's overall carbon footprint".

It added electric vehicles were quieter, more efficient and easier to maintain, and the latest addition would support the government's Simpler Recycling scheme, which is due to come into force in March.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, said: "Every vehicle we add helps reduce carbon emissions, creating a more sustainable transport fleet."

The authority already has 60 zero-emission battery electric vehicles and its newest addition will be one of the largest electric fleets in the region.

It plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.

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