Blackburn with Darwen Council is spending almost a million pounds on eight new lorries to collect food waste weekly from the borough's households.

It will conduct a pilot for the new service in April to prepare for its full introduction 12 months later.

The purchase of the vehicles for £980,660 and the test run are revealed in a report to local authority colleagues by environment boss Cllr Jim Smith and his chief officer Martin Eden.

It says: "The council requires eight food waste collection vehicles to be added to its fleet in order to comply with the Environment Act 2021, which has mandated that councils in England commence weekly food waste collections from April 2026.

"A direct award was chosen as the most appropriate route to market due to the short timescales the council is working towards to ensure a pilot food waste collection service is operational by April 2025.

Cllr Jim Smith said the new bins are mandated by governmentCllr Jim Smith said the new bins are mandated by government

"A direct award was also favoured due to the unique nature of the council’s requirement which restricted the market to just two capable suppliers.

"After conducting market research, it was discovered the second capable supplier was significantly more expensive than Terberg Matec UK which made a direct award the most sensible option.

"Each 5.5-tonne food waste collection vehicle will cost £120,355 and each 7.5-tonne food waste vehicle will cost £123,325, bringing the total for eight vehicles to £980,660.

"The procurement of food waste collection vehicles is a completely new requirement to the council.

"The council decided to go out to procurement well in advance of April 2026 to ensure two of the vehicles could be delivered in time to conduct a pilot food waste collection service in April 2025.

"Terberg Matec UK have confirmed that if required, the vehicles can be manufactured and held in storage until called off by the council at no additional charge.

"Terberg Matec UK have stated the current lead-time for new vehicles is currently 24 weeks from receipt of the order.

"In order for the vehicles to be delivered for the start of April 2025, an order must be placed in early November 2024.

"The cost of the vehicles will be met from government capital New Burdens funding and approved capital budget.

"However, the cost of procuring the vehicles along with the cost of procuring the bins and caddies may exceed the amount provided in the capital funding received by the council earlier this year..

"Equally, this report does not consider the revenue implications arising from the acquisition and use of these vehicles."