The council has taken a major step toward net zero by expanding the conversion of its refuse collection vehicles to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable diesel alternative that slashes carbon emissions by up to 90%.
Following a successful six-month trial in 2024, that saved 87 tonnes of CO₂ using HVO in six bin lorries, the Council is rolling out the programme to an additional 18 vehicles at its Friarton Depot. This expansion is projected to cut emissions by up to 500 tonnes annually.
Fleet Manager Pat Taggart described the transition as smooth and problem-free: “Our experience to date has been a very positive one not only in the reduction of CO2 emissions from our fleet but also in the practicalities of changing over to HVO – we have not seen any adverse effects on our vehicles such as ad-hoc engine repairs, and the process of running down our diesel supply and moving to the new fuel has been straightforward.
“I’m really pleased that we can do our part to support the circular economy by using waste materials and run our fleet on a certified clean fuel.”
HVO, produced entirely from waste and residue feedstocks, requires no engine modifications and fits seamlessly into existing infrastructure – making it a viable and immediate option for fleets reliant on diesel.
Darren Holloway, Commercial Director for Energy Solutions at Certas Energy, noted: “We are thrilled to be fuelling the transition to net zero for Perth and Kinross Council, who are one of a growing number of public sector organisations switching to HVO.
“Demand for HVO is growing year-on-year across the UK as more organisations are understanding the sustainability benefits of switching to this fuel. We anticipate this trend to continue for the next decade, and the public sector will be a key driver for this.”
The Council’s success story adds to mounting evidence that HVO deliver rapid decarbonisation with minimal disruption and Pat is confident that further expansion of the council programme is in the pipeline saying: “The aim for us is to eventually have all our operational depots with bin lorries running on HVO, as part of our wider decarbonisation strategy.
Image provided by Perth and Kinross Council.