The council has acquired eight new trucks that will run on HVO fuel, with the new assets substituting older vehicles in the local authority’s fleet that are due for replacement.

To support its wider environmental commitments, the council made the decision to transition from the use of diesel to HVO fuel to power its trucks in July last year, resulting in a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from its waste and recycling fleet.

According to the local authority, the emissions from the fleet had previously constituted roughly a third of its total carbon emissions.

As part of its phased rollout of electric vehicles, the council will soon be taking delivery of its first e-truck, with plans to invest in additional replacement vehicles across the next two years.

In a statement yesterday, the council explained that the phased rollout of electric vehicles will offer time to make the depot and vehicle workshop changes required to support its new equipment.

Cllr Andy Harvey, Adur's cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said: ‘The introduction of HVO as an interim measure on our way to electrification of our waste fleet has been a significant move.

‘It allows us to make immediate, substantial carbon savings while continuing to invest in proven, reliable vehicles that meet the demands of our services. We will continue to monitor and adopt electric and other low-carbon technologies as they become viable for large-scale use.’

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