£1.5m investment brings new bin lorries and street sweepers to Mid and East Antrim
Wednesday 21 October 2026
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has invested £1.5 million in new bin lorries and street cleaning equipment, with Ballymena among the towns set to benefit from the fleet upgrade.
Six new refuse collection vehicles and three compact street sweepers have been purchased to support waste collection and street cleansing services across the borough.
The investment forms part of the Council’s ongoing programme to modernise its fleet, improve the reliability of essential services and support changes to household waste collections.
New vehicles to support waste collections
Approximately £1.2 million has been spent on six new refuse collection vehicles, which will operate across Mid and East Antrim.
The vehicles have been purchased as part of the Council’s planned waste harmonisation programme, aimed at delivering a more consistent approach to waste collection throughout the borough.
The additional vehicles are expected to strengthen the reliability and resilience of collections, helping frontline teams maintain services for households across Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and surrounding communities.
Ballymena to receive new street sweeper
More than £300,000 has also been invested in three compact street sweepers, with one allocated to each of the Council’s depots in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne.
The new equipment will support routine street cleansing operations, helping teams maintain cleaner streets and public spaces for residents, businesses and visitors.
The investment is intended to strengthen the Council’s ability to maintain towns and villages across the borough, alongside its existing waste collection responsibilities.
Mayor welcomes £1.5m investment
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Council, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with, (L-R), Gary Murtagh, Waste Operations Supervisor, David Bone, Asst Director of Place, Rowan Moore, Director of Place and Martin Cleland, Waste Operations Manager.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, said the new vehicles would help improve services while supporting the Council’s environmental objectives.
"This £1.5 million investment demonstrates our commitment to continuous enhancement of services for our residents. By modernising our fleet, we are improving operational efficiency, supporting our environmental ambitions and ensuring our teams can continue to deliver vital services across the Borough.
"These new vehicles will help us maintain clean and attractive towns and villages, contribute to our waste harmonisation programme and support our wider sustainability objectives."
Improved efficiency and safety
According to the Council, the modern vehicles will offer improved fuel efficiency and updated technology designed to help reduce carbon emissions.
Upgraded vehicle designs and enhanced safety features are also expected to provide better working conditions for employees operating the equipment.
The £1.5 million purchase represents another stage in the Council’s fleet renewal programme, with the new refuse collection vehicles supporting borough-wide waste services and the three sweepers providing additional street cleansing capacity at its main depots.
