According to the council, the transition to biofuel could see the local authority save roughly 500 tonnes of carbon annually, constituting enough electricity to power 500 flats per year.

The move could also see the carbon emissions of each vehicle in its 28-asset waste collection fleet cut by 76% or more.

Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, Cllr Hannah Avery, said the change will reduce the local authority’s operational carbon emissions by ‘at least a quarter’.

She added: ‘This allows us to take significant steps towards meeting our net zero target by 2030, while we continue the longer-term work towards replacing the waste collection fleet with electric or other low carbon alternatives.

‘I’m confident that the immediate and substantial reduction in our carbon footprint, along with the improvements to local air quality, make this a socially and environmentally responsible investment.’

The council is also proceeding with its electric refuse collection vehicle trials and is currently working on procuring an electric garden waste collection vehicle.

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