Powys County Council has added three new electric vans to its Waste Awareness Team, part of efforts to reduce emissions and improve waste management across the county.

The Toyota Proace vehicles, bought from the local dealership in Builth Wells with Welsh Government funding, are zero-emission and have a range of 210 miles. They will be used by officers promoting recycling, tackling littering, and investigating fly‑tipping incidents. The council says that the vans are ideally suited to the team’s work of engaging with residents, attending community events, and responding quickly to environmental issues across Powys.

The Waste Awareness Team plays a vital role in encouraging responsible waste behaviour, providing advice on local recycling services, and working with communities to reduce waste and keep neighbourhoods clean. The new vans will also support officers in their enforcement duties, including investigating fly‑tipping and addressing littering hotspots.

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said the vans will boost the council’s vehicle fleet and help reduce emissions.

“These new electric vans will enhance our existing fleet of vehicles as we continue to reduce emissions across our operations,” she said.

She added the vans will support the team’s work to keep Powys clean.

Cllr Charlton said: “They will strengthen the presence of our Waste Awareness Team in communities across Powys, supporting their essential work to help residents recycle more, reduce waste and keep our county clean. Having fully electric vehicles will help us do that in a more sustainable way.”

The council says it is exploring further replacement of its fleet with low-emission vehicles, in line with its Sustainable Resource Strategy (Waste and Recycling) and its goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Further electric vehicles for recycling collections and street‑cleaning operations have already been ordered and are expected to arrive soon.