ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

In London, waste management services provider Veolia has rolled out a fleet of electric street cleansing bikes in partnership with Westminster City Council.

The set of 14 new bikes are an addition to the extensive Westminster fleet of over 60 electric street cleansing and collections vehicles.

Using a bike in replacement of a diesel vehicle not only significantly reduces noise pollution, but allows for a 100 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions. The electric bikes contribute towards the 89 per cent of carbon savings the overall electrification of the fleet has created - strengthening Westminster City Council's commitment to net-zero by 2040.

Veolia is committed to tackle climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity collapse and pollution by expanding the use of existing solutions and developing new ones.

The bikes are set to change standard collection and cleansing models, and are currently being used as part of the fly-tip collection process for the delivery of commercial waste bags, and for the monitoring of hot spot areas.

The bikes also ensure waste can continue to be collected during road closures and within pedestrianised areas. Their use is a step towards a new model of collection in the form of the village approach, with reduced focus on vehicles in and out of depots, and allows for increased coverage, a more efficient service - and less disturbance for residents.