Two schools are to be visited by giant machines including one called Recyclo-saurus – as pupils meet new Erewash council bin lorries they came up with wacky names for.
The 26-tonne truck with the dinosaur-style moniker will be joined by Mighty Recycler as thrilled youngsters in Long Eaton get to see the names emblazoned on the front.
Two other refuse vehicles – Rocket the Recycler and Waste Wizard – will be making their way to Bennerley Fields School in Ilkeston. Its pupils suggested the names – plus one for another of six new £227,290 additions to the council’s 20-strong fleet. It is called Garbage Guzzler.
The Long Eaton visit is to Brackenfield SEND School on Monday 17 March – and comes weeks after one of its pupils aged 11 was given a VIP tour of the council’s depot because he loves bin lorries so much.
Jerome Gooden was taken for a ride in one of the new trucks. Afterwards the overjoyed youngster was told by staff at the depot on Ilkeston’s Quarry Hill Industrial Estate that they would be naming it after him – and that he would get to see Jerome The Bin Lorry going down his street.
The pupil’s Ilkeston mum Bridget, who accompanied him with his sister Rose, 23, told how her son had been “obsessed” with bin lorries since he was a toddler. She said: “It’s been going on since he was aged around two. He has even recorded videos of bin days, which he watches on his iPad – along with YouTube films of lorries tipping rubbish at waste sites.” Erewash councillor Mark Alfrey, who is Lead Member for Environment, said:
“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the children of Bennerley Fields School and Brackenfield SEND School for their creativity and enthusiasm in naming our council refuse trucks.
“Other bin lorry names that Jerome’s classmates in Long Eaton and pupils in Ilkeston came up with included Bin It To Win It, Captain Rubbish and Sir Bins-a-Lot. The imaginative suggestions have not only made our trucks more memorable but brought a sense of community spirit to keeping our borough clean.”