Hart District Council's move to biofuel for their bin trucks has saved over 80 tonnes of carbon emissions in just three months.

Since the switch in April, hydrogenated vegetable oil, a low-carbon alternative, powers the council's waste and recycling collection vehicles.

The biofuel now makes up over 80 per cent of fuel usage across the fleet. It reportedly also has 98 per cent lower emissions than diesel, using government conversion data.

The amount of emissions saved equals the amount generated by driving 280,000 miles in an average petrol-powered car.

This goes hand in hand with the council's 2021 climate emergency declaration, aligning with their goal to be a carbon-neutral authority by 2035 and transform the district by 2040.

Councillor Richard Quarterman, portfolio holder for corporate services and climate change, said: "Our waste and recycling service is a key function and it’s fantastic we’ve been able to find a local way to tackle climate change while still delivering a great service.

"We expect to continue to make significant reductions in our emissions from our bin trucks to help protect our district and bring us closer to our goal of carbon neutrality."