Residents across Hitchin and the wider North and East Herts area may notice something a little different about their bin lorries and street sweepers — they now come with names as creative as the people they serve.

From "Sweep Caroline" the street sweeper to "Dame Foodie Dench" the food waste truck and "Binderella" the refuse collection vehicle, the newly christened fleet is rolling out across the district after a fun summer naming competition run by the Shared Waste Service.

More than 700 name suggestions poured in from residents, ranging from clever puns to pop-culture nods. A judging panel — made up of local councillors, waste team members, and Veolia crews — selected the winners that now adorn vehicles serving communities including Hitchin.

Councillor Amy Allen, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Environment, said:

"This light-hearted project helps shine a spotlight on the really important work our waste crews do day in, day out. Giving the vehicles memorable names makes them more visible and helps start conversations about recycling, sustainability, and the future of waste collection."

Councillor Tim Hoskin, from East Herts Council, added:

"We received more than 700 entries, so it was brilliant to have so many people get involved and share in the fun. It really shows how much pride our residents take in their local services."

Veolia driver Tom, whose vehicle now sports a new name, said the response from the public has already been positive:

"It's great fun seeing the new names on our trucks – they've already raised a few smiles from residents on our rounds."

Ilana Shaw, Divisional Head of Municipal Operations at Veolia UK, said the competition helped connect people with the county's new recycling services:

"It's been a great way to engage residents across East and North Hertfordshire and encourage more people to recycle at home. Thank you to everyone helping to build a more sustainable future."

As part of the new initiative, four electric bikes will also join the fleet to help crews access Hitchin's town centre and other busy areas to empty public bins and keep streets clean.

So next time you're out and about, keep your eyes peeled for "Bin Affleck," "Kate Binslet," and "Optimus Grime" — just a few of the stars of the new waste fleet making Hitchin a cleaner, greener, and funnier place to live.

➡️ You can see the full list of winning names on the North Herts Council website.