• Biffa is bringing 43 new Mercedes-Benz Econic refuse collection trucks into service in the UK
• British refuse and recycling specialist is testing five skip loaders and hookloaders based on the Econic in London
• DirectVision cab: 5-star rating for excellent all-round visibility

Stuttgart / London – Integrated waste management and recycling leader Biffa has expanded its fleet with 43 new Mercedes-Benz Econic trucks. The British refuse collection and recycling specialist now has a fleet of around 1500 refuse collection and recycling vehicles in active operation across the UK. A large part of that fleet is made up Econic refuse collection trucks.

The majority of the 43 recently delivered brand-new Econic vehicles are refuse collection vehicles based on the Econic 2630 L and feature a steered rear axle as well as a compactor body. Colin Bagnall, Fleet Project Engineer at Biffa, is truly impressed by the Econic: "The Mercedes-Benz Econic is our vehicle of choice for refuse collection. It is reliable and cost-effective in operation, while our crews appreciate its comfortable, air-conditioned walk-through cab."

Alongside the 38 three-axle, 26-tonne trucks with compactor body, Biffa has also ordered two novel vehicle types: skip loaders and hookloaders based on the low-entry Econic chassis. The five new refuse collection vehicles are currently being tested in London. There are three two-axle Econic 1827 L skip loaders and two Econic 3235 L hookloaders with four axles. By equipping the trucks with a steering front axle, a tandem axle unit with two driven rear axles and a single-tyre trailing steered axle, the Econic hookloaders are especially well-suited to waste collection in heavy urban traffic thanks to the particularly good manoeuvrability which this combination offers. Initial feedback from the drivers was encouragingly positive.

The new Econic vehicles from Biffa are powered by frugal OM 936 LA six-cylinder inline engines with 7.7 litres displacement. Engine output on the refuse collection vehicles is 220 kW (299 hp); on the skip loaders, that figure is 200 kW (272 hp), whilst the hookloaders deliver 260 kW (354 hp). On the Econic 2630 L refuse collection trucks, a fully automatic Allison 6-speed transmission handles gearshifts, whilst the skip loaders and hookloaders are equipped with a 12-speed Mercedes PowerShift 3 transmission.

Cab with five-star rating – direct line of sight with cyclists and pedestrians

The "DirectVision cab" of the Econic makes a decisive contribution towards protecting weaker road users: thanks to its deep, panoramic windscreen and full-height, glazed folding side door and the low driver's seating position, the driver enjoys excellent all-round visibility of surrounding traffic. As a result, the driver has direct eye contact with cyclists and pedestrians, e.g. at junctions or in traffic jams. The Mercedes-Benz Econic was therefore honoured with a five-star rating as part of London's "DirectVision Standards" guideline.

Biffa was founded in 1912. The company is based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and has a total of 195 branches across the UK. Its Municipal Division services over 2.4 million households and collects 4.1 million bins every week.