BURY'S fleet of bin wagons is set to get a green new revamp.

After years of service carting off residents rubbish and refuse the ageing wagons are to be replaced with more efficient, reliable and environmental friendly trucks.

Half of the 24-strong squadron will be succeeded by a new generation to reduce breakdowns and improve bin collection services.

The investment was approved by Bury Council’s cabinet last night as part of a £10 million replacement programme for the council’s 200 vehicles.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Our binmen have done magnificently during the coronavirus pandemic, keeping all four household bin collections going and dealing with much heavier weights than normal due to more people staying at home during the lockdown.

“Unfortunately, many of our vehicles are long past their best and becoming increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain.

"Bin collections are a frontline service we all use, so we need to invest the money and maintain standards.

“Replacing these old vehicles with newer low emission ones will also contribute to our aim of making Bury a carbon-free borough.”

The announcement comes as Bury's waste department is busier than ever.

In an average week the borough's binmen empty an astonishing 123,500 bins.

These contain an average weekly total of 1,125 tonnes of waste ­— equivalent to the weight of around 11 blue whales.

Moreover, during the coronavirus pandemic, the hard-working refuse teams have put in a herculean effort to collect more domestic waste than ever before.

In April and May they collected some 6,708 tonnes of waste ­— equivalent to more than 1,000 double decker busses.