The seven-year deal was awarded earlier this year following a comprehensive tender process to assess contract hire and outright purchase.
The new 20-strong fleet comprises a mix of refuse collection vehicles, recycling collection vehicles, sweepers, box vans and a hooklift.
Caroline Roffey, the council’s head of street scene services, says: “There has been a smooth transition, thanks to our service provider, which has meant there has been no disruption to services.”
She adds: “We have been working with SFS for over 14 years so we are delighted to continue our excellent working relationship. The team at SFS have provided continual support and advice to ensure that every vehicle specification meets both our requirements and budget.”
The council decided to bring its dry recycling service back in house earlier this year and has been collecting co-mingled recyclable waste from households since 1 April. As part of the deal, SFS provided five new temporary recycling vehicles to deliver the new service prior to the contract start date.
“The new fleet provided by SFS will decrease our maintenance costs and increase the reliability of our services,” says councillor Mark Nickerson, the council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, adding that contract hire proved to be the most effective choice in terms of cost and risk.
“As well as improving efficiency, our refuse trucks now all have Euro VI engines and extra protection for cyclists, reducing our emissions and making them safer for other road users,” he says.
Pictured (L-R) are: Tim White, fleet operations manager, SFS; the council’s Caroline Roffey; Darren Moore, business development & waste manager, HBBC; and councillor Mark Nickerson.