YOUR household waste could soon be taken away in electric rubbish collection vehicles.

Somerset Waste Partnership's recycling and recovery partner SUEZ trialled a purpose-built electric truck last month.

The two organisations are also looking into possibly using electric supervisor vans.

And there are also plans to later in the year trial a 'retro-fitted' rubbish truck - a traditional diesel vehicle converted to electric by the manufacturer.

An SWP spokesperson said: "These are still developing technologies and particularly challenging in a large rural county where supporting infrastructure is limited and vehicles need a long range.

"Any investment will be subject to Somerset Waste Board approval of a business case."

Meanwhile, it has emerged that around 98 per cent of the 103,000 tonnes collected kerbside or at recycling sites in Somerset the past eight months stayed in the UK - compared to just under 90 per cent in all of last year.

Plastic performance is even better, with less than one per cent of the 3,135 tonnes collected in eight months going overseas.

The impressive figures are thanks to residents sorting their recycling and hard work by SWP’s new collections contractor SUEZ to find more domestic reprocessors.

Somerset Waste Board's Joint Scrutiny Panel heard yesterday (10th Feb) that SWP plans to trial electric collection vehicles in its efforts to tackle climate change and protect the environment.

SWP will also develop a 'reuse' strategy and explore the potential for solar or wind power generation at its depots.

SWP Managing Director Mickey Green said: “We have a starring role to play in the climate emergency work that all partners are signed up to.

"What SWP does, how we do it, and how well we do it, can all have a major impact.

"It’s early days for things like an electric fleet and depot developments, but recycling more and keeping that recycling in the UK is an immediate win.

"Residents sorting recycling really helps us to keep it in the UK and I thank everyone for their efforts."