29-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
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.
