When Total Recycling invested in its first fleet of new trucks, only one supplier was in the running - Mercedes-Benz.
That's because although the company was established less than two years ago, it is led by a management team with a combined experience of more than 25 years in the hazardous and non-hazardous waste handling sector.
And while General Manager Paul Mitchell has worked with vehicles by several manufacturers, he has no doubts as to which are the best.
"Mercedes-Benz is world-renowned for its build quality and we wouldn't buy any other make of truck," he said. "I know from past experience that its vehicles are extremely reliable and fuel-efficient, and our drivers love them too.
"They are also among the 'greenest' trucks on the road," he continued. "This is important, because as waste management and recycling specialists we are very aware of our responsibility to the environment."
The Darlington-based company's vehicles were supplied by North-East Mercedes-Benz dealer Bell Truck and Van. The order comprised three 44-tonne Actros 2544 tractor units with flat-floored MegaSpace cabs, a pair of 32-tonne Axor 3240Ks with Multilift hookloading equipment fitted by Northallerton firm Londonderry Garage, and a 26-tonne Axor 2533 with 30ft curtainside body by CVC, of Blaydon, and DEL 1500kg tuckaway tail lift.
The Axor eight-wheelers are now working with Total Recycling's collection of 120 large roll-on, roll-off skips. Trucks drop the demountable skips at the premises of commercial customers across the region, then collect them when full and returns them to Total's headquarters, where the contents are sorted and baled then forwarded to recycling plants in the UK and worldwide.
The remaining vehicles spend most of their time assigned to a contract with one of Total's biggest customers, a major mailing house. They collect the company's waste paper, which is then baled and sent to pulping mills for recycling.
Mr Mitchell added: "I've worked with Mercedes-Benz, Bell Truck and Van and its sales executive Dave Maughan for many years, so I know that we will receive an exceptionally high level of service."