Cotswold District Council plans its biggest carbon-cutting project: replacing waste fleet for greener, more reliable service

This is the single largest carbon reduction initiative the council has ever undertaken in terms of percentage, reflecting its commitment to balancing environmental responsibility with high-quality service delivery and value for money against a background of Local Government Reorganisation.  

By replacing the waste fleet - which currently accounts for nearly half of the council’s carbon footprint - the changes will make recycling services more dependable while driving progress toward its ambitious goal of cutting emissions by 80% by 2030 

With the fleet of 31 vehicles reaching the end of its operational life, the council will replace it with cleaner, greener alternatives. This includes introducing its first electric vehicle to test EV performance across the district and adopting Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) – a sustainable fuel made from used cooking oil and other industrial by-products. 

David Stanley, Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer at Cotswold District Council, said: “Our priority is to make sure we maintain a robust, reliable recycling service for residents. Replacing the fleet now ensures we avoid rising maintenance costs and reliability issues that could disrupt collections. At the same time, these changes allow us to make significant progress toward our carbon reduction goals.” 

The majority of the cost of replacing the fleet is already accounted for, as the vehicles are nearing the end of their operational lives. Extending their use is not recommended, as it would lead to increased maintenance costs and reduced reliability, impacting services for residents. 

The decision to move to the procurement stage of the project was passed unanimously at the Council’s full cabinet meeting on 8 January.