South Hams District Council has reported major carbon savings from a trial of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in four waste and recycling vehicles.
The use of HVO cut emissions by between 79% and 89%, according to the council, and the trial found no compatibility or reliability issues, and the vehicles needed no modification.
If HVO were used across the full waste fleet, the council estimates annual emissions could fall by around 1,210 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. That would be an 81% cut for the fleet and a 61% cut in the council’s overall direct and indirect emissions.
The trial may now be extended at the Ivybridge and Torr Quarry depots for six months.
Electrification remains the long-term priority for smaller vehicles, with 15 diesel vans already replaced by electric models, according to the council.
Cllr Nadine Dommett, South Hams District Council’s Executive Lead for Decarbonisation of Council Operations, said: ‘The Council is turning its climate ambitions into practical action across the services and buildings it operates.’
Photo: Cllr Julian Brazil, Executive Lead Member for Waste, Cllr Nadine Dommett, Executive Lead for Decarbonisation of Council Operations, and Cllr Dan Thomas, Leader of South Hams District Council, with one of the new vehicles © South Hams District Council.
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