Leicestershire council powers bin lorries with used vegetable oil

North West Leicestershire District Council has swapped diesel fuel for hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), to power its fleet of bin lorries and road sweepers.

The move to the lower-emission fuel, which is produced using waste food oil, is part of the local authority’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.

It is expected to reduce the fleet’s emissions by up to 90% and achieve an estimated carbon saving of 1,221 tonnes of CO2 over the vehicles’ lifetime.

A refuelling point has been established at the council’s recycling depot, in Coalville.

Councillor Andrew Woodman, portfolio holder for Community Services at NWLDC, said: “Removing diesel from our fleet is a great step on our Zero Carbon journey and allows us to quickly reduce our carbon footprint.

“We’re investing in zero or low emission vehicles and fuel for the future to lead the way across the district. It’s great to see our changing fleet take to the roads.”

The council uses a mix of refuse collection vehicles, housing maintenance vehicles, medium sized panel vans and smaller vehicles alongside more specialist equipment, such as sweepers and mowers.

Its entire fleet of 109 vehicles will run on waste food oil or battery electricity by 2024.

Petrol-powered cars in the fleet will be replaced with battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with charging points installed at key council locations to add to the 20 already installed in public car parks across the district.