“We did complete several trials of alternative chassis and configurations, but only the Dennis Eagle narrow track rear-steer vehicles could be 100% proven to reach the required properties,” says Brian Ashby – Head of Municipal Collections and Streetscene, FCC Environment.
A robust process
One of the UK's leading recycling and waste management companies, FCC employs more than 55,000 people worldwide and almost 4,222 people across the UK. It helps local authorities and businesses deal with waste as efficiently and safely as possible, recycling 1.5 million tonnes of waste and generating more than 167 megawatts of green energy each year.
FCC has held the Herefordshire contract since 2000, collecting waste and recyclables from the county’s almost 200,000 people.
“It was a long and complex tender process with several bidders,” says Brian Ashby. “At all times though we retained focus on delivering the best solution, with a specific focus on environmental performance.”
Dennis Eagle's support
Dennis Eagle worked closely with FCC on the bid to ensure Herefordshire Council was satisfied that its vehicles would safely negotiate all required areas of the county.
“It was a long and enjoyable process,” says Adam Robins, DE’s General Manager. “There were a lot of changes along the way, and we left no stone unturned to make sure the complete package met with the Council’s full approval.”
Brian Ashby says FCC’s local knowledge and existing relationship with the county’s residents was crucial: “We knew what was important in the county. With our local knowledge and the council’s requirements, it was obvious that narrow-bodied vehicles would be the way to go. So, Dennis Eagle's narrow chassis and body capacity was the prevailing factor.”
The new contract commenced on September 1st, and FCC will have 28 new Dennis Eagle vehicles working on the new contract. The order is made up of 13 OL19N/OmniDELs, two OL19N/Olympus Trades, seven OL10N/ OmniDELs, four OL Minis and two eCollects.
Electrifying the future
Environmental performance was a key part of the tender process, with all government authorities across the UK looking to meet short-term and long-term net-zero targets. This meant that a commitment to exploring electrification was crucial for Herefordshire Council.
“Electric vehicles are not yet quite the like-for-like replacement of mineral-powered vehicles of the same specification, mainly due to range,” says Brian. “However, I fully suspect that improved battery life and power are on the horizon, which will improve range.
“We have trialled the Dennis Eagle eCollect, and due to its performance, we have procured two of these for use on this contract. I see Dennis Eagle – and other chassis providers – being essential for developing electric solutions, and I look forward to working with them to make this option available to new and existing clients.”