The first vehicles of the new fleet – three Mercedes Benz Actros hook lift trucks – were delivered this week, with six more hook lifts and two articulated lorries to follow during the course of the year. The company said the new fleet would “give a major boost to the area's recycling rates”.
Onyx South Downs said the new vehicles will help to support the area's household waste recycling site network, which the company is managing and currently carrying out upgrade improvements.
Tony Miles, operations manager for Onyx, says of the new fleet: “We are very pleased to take delivery of these new vehicles. With features such as Euro 4 diesel engines and road-friendly intelligent gear boxes, they will help us to keep emissions as low as possible and cut fuel consumption.”
The fleet will also help to support the new waste infrastructure planned for the area, Onyx said, including a new materials recovery facility, a composting facility, three waste transfer stations and an energy recovery facility.
East Sussex currently recycles about 23% of its household waste (2003/04), with targets to reach a 27% recycling rate by 2005/06. Onyx won a 25-year integrated waste management contract with the county council and Brighton & Hove city council in 2002.
The current household waste recycling site upgrades should see the first new site opening for Crowborough residents early next month.
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