National first as Richmond set to run fleet on cooking oil

12.24.00pm GMT Mon 10th Mar 2008

• RICHMOND Council is set to become the first local authority in the country to run its entire vehicle fleet on recycled cooking oil, saving hundreds of tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

Tenders are being drawn up with a view to launching the ground-breaking initiative this summer. Under the plan the Council would operate its 200-vehicle fleet using biodiesel from 100 per cent recycled cooking oil. It is estimated that this type of fuel would save 300 tonnes of CO2 from being pumped into the atmosphere each year. The move follows a trial scheme which proved hugely successful. It all underlines the Council's green credentials and its determination to become the most sustainable in the UK.

Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, Cllr David Trigg, said: "This is a hugely exciting initiative and yet another step in our continuing drive to be the most sustainable borough. It follows soon after another national first for Richmond: our scheme linking the cost of parking permits to the vehicle's CO2 emissions. We are determined to be innovative in achieving our goals and the cooking oil scheme is further evidence of our commitment and resolve. We hope that, like the parking initiative, it will have a domino effect and lead to other fleet operators following our example. One early snag was the cost penalty of using this form of biodiesel and we wrote to the Chancellor asking for a reduction in the duty, which he turned down. However, matters have swung in our favour as the recent increase in oil prices now makes this recycled fuel economically viable. We anticipate its use may be slightly cheaper than conventional fuel. So we are pressing on with a scheme that we hope will be another trail-blazer nationwide."