Lighting McClean speeds into recycling service alongside Alfie the Recycling Machine

Article date: 12 July 2024

The competition was open to the Year 5 and 6 primary pupils, with children invited to draw a picture of the vehicles with their suggested name. Winners were selected by a panel of recycling officers and the service's cabinet member, Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE.

The winners are 'Lightning McClean' by ten-year-old Lucy from Wargrave Primary School, and 'Alfie the Recycling Machine' by 11 year-old Alfie from Lansbury Bridge School.

Two brand new electric recycling collection vehicles are now adorned with the winning names.

An extra winner was chosen for the recycling service's new small electric van, now named 'Lambogreenie' by Mia, aged nine from Wargrave Primary School.

The winners' drawings were framed for them and they received a goody bag from Terberg, makers of the electric recycling vehicles.

The growing green fleet of more than 30 electric vehicles is helping St Helens Borough Council towards achieving its target of net zero carbon by 2040.

The fleet also includes one truly pioneering hydrogen fuel cell electric refuse collection vehicle - custom made by German manufacturer Faun Zoeller and the first in operation in the UK. It was named the 'Hydro Hero' by Maisie, aged 9, from Queen's Park Primary School following a competition in December last year.

And three low-emission gritters received their new names from more than 120 public entries, being dubbed Grit Astley (Never Gonna Slip You Up); Sleetwood Mac and Jonny Snowmax.

Procurement of the vehicles is part of ongoing plan to replace ageing council vehicles with electric and low-emission alternatives, saving money and cutting carbon emissions by 100s of tonnes every year.

To facilitate the charging of the new electric vehicles St Helens Borough Council installed 25 electric vehicle charging points in its Hardshaw Brook Depot earlier this year, part of the first phase of its EV charging infrastructure.

The move supports the council's ambitious Climate Action Plan adopted last year. Alongside the reduced emissions, the modernisation of the fleet is helping to increase service resilience and efficiency, with less downtime for repairs and reduced maintenance costs.

And it's providing opportunities for staff to learn and develop new skills that will serve them well as the switch to sustainable transport continues.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said:

"Congratulations to the winners and our thanks to every pupil who took part! There were lots of fantastic entries that gave our panel a great laugh and a hard time choosing. It was a pleasure to bring the vehicles out to the schools and see all the children excited about them.

"We're always eager to do this as our recycling service is one the many fundamental, everyday jobs we do. It's a service that we've modernised and improved based on residents' feedback, and that we're investing in for the future, increasing its resilience, efficiency and sustainability."