Fuel never believe it! Colchester's bin lorries could soon be powered by ... old chip oil and lard
Council bosses are banking on a breakthrough that lets trucks run on recycled cooking fat and vegetable oil.
The wonder fuel slashes air pollution and fuel bills.
Now Colchester Council hopes to use "bio-diesel" in its fleet of dust carts.
Most of its vehicles already use eco-friendly LPG. But that won't work in the huge 24-tonne rubbish trucks.
The gas-guzzling HGVs do less than five miles per gallon so the new fuel could mean big savings.
"We need to find the most cost-effective fuel for our larger vehicles," said council waste and transport chief Dave McManus.
"As a council we need to make sure we lead the way by recycling and using fuel that is better for the environment."
The trucks should need little or no work to convert them to bio-diesel. The alternative fuel is then simply mixed with normal diesel.
Tests show bio-diesel can cut some dangerous emissions by more than 80 per cent.
Mr McManus said: "If bio-diesel is readily available and we can get our hands on it, we will start using it as soon as possible."
Published Friday, April 11, 2003
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