Newport puts Wales’ first eCollect into service

The vehicle is being used for collecting residual waste from households across the city including large parts of the outlying village of Caerleon. This has been prioritised by the council as an area where it aims to improve air quality. The eCollect, it says, will help it do just that.

The local authority has also set itself the target of becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.

The vehicle has been purchased with help from Welsh Government which provided a grant for half of the cost from its Circular Economy Fund.

Cllr Roger Jeavons, deputy leader of the council, said: “I’m delighted that Newport is the first local authority in the country to launch an electric refuse collection vehicle.

“This launch demonstrates our commitment as a council to improving our city’s environment and green credentials and I look forward to us taking further action to decarbonise our fleet and make Newport a greener place to live.”

Cllr Deb Davies, cabinet member for sustainable development, added: “This sustainable vehicle will not only help us meet our aim of becoming a carbon neutral organisation but will also benefit many of our residents by reducing emissions and improving the air quality in their wards.

“Actions such as this deliver sustainable benefits across the city and have a positive impact for both current and future generations, so I’m really pleased to see the vehicle go into service and start delivering those benefits to our residents.”