The trial will see the council buy two new bin lorries which will be converted to be able to use either hydrogen or diesel.

The Liverpool-based hydrogen combustion engine technology experts ULEMCo will provide the dual fuel technology and a hydrogen refuelling point will be set up at Toyota’s Burnaston headquarters.

The trial project will cost £705,800 in total, with £360,000 funded by South Derbyshire District Council, £310,000 from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, £25,000 from ULEMco, and £10,800 from Toyota.

Cllr Steve Taylor, South Derbyshire District Council’s chair of environment and development services committee said: ‘Trialling hydrogen powered refuse collection vehicles is a key part of the work the council is doing to decarbonise its fleet and we would like to thank partners Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd for hosting the refuelling station and ULEMco for its hydrogen dual fuel expertise.

‘This is only the latest step in our innovative work to become carbon neutral by 2030: earlier this year the council was recognised as having the best rated Climate and Environment Plan of all district and borough councils in the East Midlands and at the end of last year the council became one of the first in the UK to sign up to coffee pod recycling.’