Birmingham City Council to modernise RCV fleet with 151 new trucks

Birmingham City Council has signed a new contract to modernise its refuse collection vehicle (RCV) fleet with 115 Dennis Eagle trucks.

The new fleet will begin arriving in March 2025 and replace a combination of outdated council-owned vehicles, many of which are beyond their operational lifespan, and hired vehicles currently in use.

The council said this will reduce its reliance on hired vehicles and “enhance the reliability and consistency of waste collection services for residents across the city”.

Dennis Eagle won the tender process for the fleet deal with a combination of “best value and innovative solutions to support the city’s waste collection services”.

The contract comprises 110 of Dennis Eagle's Elite+ truck, alongside 41 7.5T Orus trucks for organic waste collection.

It specifies a number of ‘Narrow’ chassis variants of the Elite+ – the reduced width minimising contact with the kerb or parked cars helping to reduce associated tyre and insurance costs.

While diesel-powered, all vehicles comply with the latest emissions standards and align with Birmingham’s air quality objectives, ensuring they are compliant with the city’s Clean Air Zone parameters.

Councillor Majid Mahmood, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "By replacing outdated vehicles with a state-of-the-art fleet, we are not only improving the working conditions for our crews but also taking a step towards a more sustainable future with vehicles that meet stringent emissions standards.”