Waste fats and cooking oil will soon be used to power Runnymede Borough Council’s entire fleet of almost 80 vehicles.
The move could cut the authority’s emissions from its fleet by up to 90 per cent compared with the diesel fuel currently used. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, otherwise known as HVO, is bio-fuel and it is set to be used in our refuse trucks, minibuses, vans, street sweepers and other vehicles, in the coming months.
Runnymede is the first council in Surrey making the move to HVO which is made from renewable raw materials and waste. It is anticipated that using HVO could cut emissions from the Council’s operations by around 650 tonnes of C02e per year.
Councillors unanimously backed the move to HVO at the Environment and Sustainability Committee, demonstrating the desire across all parties to make an effective and lasting positive impact on Runnymede’s climate and environment.
Cllr David Coen, Chair of Runnymede’s Environment and Sustainability Committee said:
It is great to know that in the coming months our fleet, from our bin lorries to our road sweepers, will continue to provide the same high level of service whilst producing less harmful pollution into the environment and people’s lungs.
We’ve committed that by 2030 all our council operations will be Carbon Net Zero. Switching over to HVO has the potential of hugely reducing the Council’s overall carbon emission.
Using HVO is one of many examples where the council is helping tackle climate change. Other examples include the electric meals at home vans, solar panels on social centres and around 2,250 trees planted since 2019.
The Council’s Climate Change Strategy outlines the ambitions and objectives that will be taken to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change.
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