Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil has replaced diesel in all of Wealden District Council’s waste collection and street cleansing vehicles, operated by the council’s contractor Biffa.

The alternative sustainable replacement fuel HVO is cleaner and reduces carbon by up to 90% compared to regular diesel, saving up to 1,800 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The switch will also reduce other potentially harmful emissions including nitrous oxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide, helping to make our air cleaner.

Wealden District Council worked with Biffa to conduct a successful trial earlier this year, with Biffa also sourcing the HVO for the vehicles.

Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Waste and Customer Services, said, “There are 33 vehicles in the waste and street cleansing fleet that will be operating on HVO. It is initiatives like these that are vital to helping us meet our net zero commitment.”

Councillor Paul Coleshill, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat), and lead councillor for Climate Change, Wellbeing and Economy, said, “I am very pleased that the waste fleet will be moving to a sustainable alternative from diesel. The amount of carbon emissions that will be reduced from this one scheme alone is substantial. By making these positive changes, we are making significant progress towards our goal of becoming net zero.”

A Biffa spokesperson added, ‘In partnership with Wealden District Council, this full replacement to use HVO across the 33 vehicles is a great step forward and we are pleased to support Wealden District Council’s ambition towards net zero’

Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party), lead councillor for Housing & Benefits and deputy leader of the council, said, “I think this is an innovation we should be proud of, we are making changes and heading in the right direction to achieve the council’s objective of becoming net zero. There is still a lot of work to do, but I hope it will be seen as an opportunity for other local operators of diesel-powered commercial vehicles to join us and make the switch.”