Kensington and Chelsea bin lorries switch to vegetable oil in push for greener borough
In a borough more often associated with high-end boutiques than waste collection, Kensington and Chelsea Council is making a quietly radical move: bin lorries are now running on vegetable oil. As part of a new pilot scheme, 44 waste collection vehicles have switched from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), in a move expected to cut the fleet’s carbon emissions by a striking 90 per cent.
That’s no small feat. According to the Council, this change could save around 300 tonnes of carbon each year, which is the equivalent of taking more than 100 cars off London’s roads.
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HVO fuel, made from used cooking oil and animal fats, is processed using hydrogen to create a cleaner alternative to diesel. The science behind it allows HVO to run in standard diesel engines without modification, meaning Kensington and Chelsea didn’t need to buy a new fleet, they just changed what’s in the tank.
And the cost? Surprisingly neutral. “The price of HVO is currently about the same as diesel,” the Council noted, “but it may end up being cheaper in future as diesel prices continue to rise.”
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for net zero at Kensington and Chelsea Council, put it plainly:
“By trialling hydrotreated vegetable oil in place of a polluting fuel like diesel, we are innovating without compromising service. Residents are still getting their bins collected twice a week, and it’s not costing more either – win win.”
He added with a smile:
“A lot of HVO is reclaimed from catering. So next time you’re enjoying Friday night fish and chips, the oil used to fry your meal may well end up fuelling our waste collection vehicles.”
The Kensington & Chelsea bin lorry pilot is one part of the Council’s wider 2022 commitment to create a greener, safer and fairer borough. Other sustainability steps already taken include the installation of air source heat pumps in six local schools, as well as at Chelsea Old Town Hall and the Chelsea Leisure Centre.
If successful, this vegetable oil initiative could be expanded and potentially set an example for other London boroughs to follow. For more on how HVO works, see this detailed overview of hydrotreated vegetable oil.
For more stories on sustainable initiatives in the borough, visit EyeOnLondon Kensington & Chelsea
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