TAMESIDE Council has been urged to buy British when it comes to replacing its bin lorries – not ‘supporting German jobs.’
The authority is looking to replace 22 refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) as part of its 2025/26 Vehicle Replacement Programme.
But Cllr Dave Sweeton has urged those deciding where to spend the money to look closer to home first.
He told a meeting of the Place and External Relations Scrutiny Panel: “Are we leading by example here?
“Are we looking at a fleet replacement with British vehicles, so it’s supporting British jobs and British skills?
“We produce some of the best in the world, with Dennis and what have you. Those are manufactured in the UK.
“I’d hate to see this authority getting German stuff, supporting their jobs and not our jobs.”
Dennis, formed in Guildford, Surrey, is synonymous with manufacturing bin lorries and its current headquarters are at Warwick, Warwickshire.
However, the firm is now owned by Holland-based Terberg Environmental Group after it took over Dennis Eagle in 2016.
Tameside Council is investing almost £2 million in new bin trucks and crews, including vehicles with up to date live tracking technology.
But Cllr Christine Beardmore told the panel the council should be looking to go electric.
She said: “There are so many things we can do as a council environmentally. It’s like getting electric buses, those are sensible things to do.”