Council vehicles still fuelled by used cooking oil from takeaways despite test equipment theft
A council has agreed to continue with a trial that sees used cooking oil fuel its vehicles after equipment was stolen during a break-in.
The burglary at a Mid and East Antrim Council depot resulted in the theft of testing equipment containing trial data.
However, councillors have agreed to continue with their trial of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in a further three vehicles.
To date, 11,800 litres of HVO fuel have been used in the trial involving six council vehicles during the initial testing phase.
This started last October but was halted temporarily following the break-in.
The report states that emissions from council vehicles contribute to a quarter of the local authority's carbon footprint.
By fully adopting HVO as an alternative fuel, it is anticipated the council could reduce the amount of carbon its fleet produces by up to 90%.
The HVO is produced from used cooking oil collected from fast food outlets. It can be fully blended with diesel and requires no modifications to diesel engines.
It has been estimated the council's vehicle emissions could be reduced overall from 1,733 tonnes annually to 132 tonnes.
However, the council's annual fleet fuel bill could rise from £790,000 to around £898,000.
Speaking at the meeting, DUP councillor Peter Johnston said: 'For us as a council, value for money is a big consideration. It is positive to note that the cost of fuel is coming down.'
Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs said it was 'right that we should continue with the trial'.
Alliance's Aaron Skinner said: 'Trials like this are what we have to be doing. It is good to see this coming forward. In terms of energy security, it is good to see.'
Shaun Morley, the council's operations director, stated: 'Technology has moved on quite a bit. Engines are much more resilient.'
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council owns 260 vehicles worth £3.2m, councillors have been told.
A previous report said the fleet consists of bin lorries, vans, heavy goods vehicles, trailers, tractors, quads and excavators.
With the exception of four small electric vans, the fleet is diesel-powered.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Extension granted to question man over north Belfast murder
The police have been granted an additional 36 hours to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder in north Belfast. The 31-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after the death of Marie Green, who was Green was pronounced dead at the scene on the Shore Road in the early of Tuesday morning. A cordon is in place at the front of the property on the Shore Road which is close to the junction with Donegall Park Avenue. 'Lovely lady' Residents and business owners near the Shore Road have said Marie Green was a lovely lady. North Belfast Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Phillip Brett said there is "massive shock and sadness" amongst the community following the incident, adding that it was "absolutely heartbreaking".Alliance MLA Nuala McAllister said it was a "horrifying incident"."I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the victim," she added."The local community is in immense shock, but I have no doubt they will come together to support the family during what will be such a distressing time.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
North Kesteven bin lorries powered by recycled cooking oil
Nearly all the dustbin lorries in North Kesteven are running on recycled fuel, the council has but two of the fleet of 31 vehicles now use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in place of council said it reduces overall greenhouse gas emission in its waste collection operation by 90%, cutting around 800 tonnes of CO2 a is produced by recycling used cooking oils and similar products. Travelling around 400,000 miles (643,737 km) a year, the refuse fleet empties 55,000 bins a leader Richard Wright said waste collection was responsible for 41% of the council's carbon footprint."Our vehicles travel along every road in the district, servicing every home, clearing fly tipping and undertaking other vital environmental tasks right across the area," he said."Now as they do so, there will be greatly reduced atmospheric impact as climate damaging emissions direct from the exhausts will be 98% lower from vehicles using HVO over regular diesel."The council is also investing in electric-powered vehicles and fitting solar panels and air-heat pumps to its to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
DUP's Gordon Lyons suggests GAA consider 'more modest' Casement Park option
Sports Minister Gordon Lyons has suggested the GAA consider a more "modest" stadium build for Casement Park. The DUP MLA said he had met with the Northern Ireland Secretary and the GAA president Jarlath Burns recently. "At this point," he told View from Stormont, "we are waiting for the government to make clear what, if any, contribution they are willing to give. "As minister for sport I will always welcome more money for sport and sporting infrastructure but I have made it clear to the government it will have to be done on a fair and equitable basis." He said there were still needs and demands in other sports. On the meeting with GAA president Jarlath Burns, Mr Lyons described it as good. There have been reports of tensions between the two men. The minister said there had been "a lot of mischief making" from political parties and some in the media on the matter. He suggested the GAA should consider a more "modest" option for the redevelopment of the stadium which has sat derelict for the past 10 years. "When it comes down to it the Casement, the issue is about pounds and pence," he added. "There is a shortfall and when there is a shortfall you either need to find additional sources of money or look at the plans again. "If or when the government take a decision.... that's then the time for the GAA to consider what their plans are and if they are willing to look at a more modest Casement Park development. That's in the hands of the GAA." He said that was set out "clearly" to the GAA in his meeting with its president, "and there were certainly no issues that arose from that". The MLA also defended setting out a proposal to start building up to 1,000 new social homes this year despite a pledge by the Executive to build many more. Earlier this year the Executive set out a pledge to build 5,850 over three years, equating to just under 2,000 a year. Gordon Lyons said there could be additional money coming to his department later down the line. He also said he was meeting the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor to make a case to allow borrowing off existing housing stock which could provide more funding both for improvements and building. He said this was a simple move for the government to make. Speaking to Vicki Hawthorne on View From Stormont, the DUP MLA said he hoped more cash come come from the forthcoming spending review in London. The minister also pledged a positive announcement on the long-awaited development of Bangor sea front.
