Decision details

To outline the results of a feasibility study into potential fuels for the Council’s Refuse Collection Vehicles and propose a 12-month trial of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

The Climate Change Action Plan was approved at the 07 June 2021 Executive meeting.  Understanding the Council’s vehicle replacement options and trialling vehicles to move towards other fuel sources for the fleet were identified as priorities within the plan.

The feasibility of hydrogen, electricity and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as alternative fuels for the refuse collection vehicle (RCV) fleet are presented.

The report proposes a 12-month trial of HVO in the three RCVs to be used for garden waste collections, starting in time for the launch of the new wheeled bin collection service in February 2022.  

RESOLVED that the Executive approves:

(a)  a 12-month pilot using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to fuel the three Refuse Collection vehicles collecting garden waste; and

(b)  that the Head of Streetscene, following consultation with the Executive Member for Streetscene, be authorised to broaden the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to the wider refuse collection vehicle fleet during the trial considering a reasonable balance of emissions savings against potential additional costs.