New food waste trucks will be powered by biofuel

Winchester City Council’s leader said the move was an "exciting step forward"

Food waste across Winchester will be collected using trucks powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil as part of a new £1.8m plan.

Winchester City Council’s cabinet approved buying nine new 12-tonne food waste collection trucks and a new electric refuse collection vehicle (RCV) that will be used by its contractor, Biffa.

All councils must provide a food waste collection service by April 2026.

Government funding will account for £1.4m and the council will stump up the other £400,000.

Council leader Martin Tod said the move was an “exciting step forward”.

The authority said the larger trucks would cater for Winchester’s needs as it covers both urban and rural areas.

To ensure the trucks were ordered on time the decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The RCV – which the council will pay £36,000 for – will be bought and introduced in the autumn.

The authority will also pay £30,000 for infrastructure changes at the depot so it can charge the RCV.

It current has 17 vehicles in its waste and recycling collection fleet.