A Highland Council bus and a refuse collection vehicle have become unlikely pioneers in the region’s drive toward a cleaner, greener future.
In a partnership with Highland Fuels, the two vehicles are now running on recycled cooking oil, waste that once powered fryers and chip pans, now repurposed to power the wheels of local services.
The pilot project marks a bold step in exploring sustainable alternatives to diesel across the council’s large fleet of public service vehicles.
Both the bus and the refuse truck have been specially adapted for the trial and will be easily recognised on Highland roads thanks to new signage highlighting their eco-friendly transformation.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, visited the depot to see the vehicles before they set off on their first rounds.
“This trial with our partner Highland Fuels is a step forward in our transition to a cleaner future when it comes to fueling our buses and refuse vehicles,” he said.
“I am eager to see the vehicles out on the road and get feedback on using hydrotreated vegetable oil for fuel.
“The savings on emissions will be very marked.”
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, known as HVO is produced by refining recycled cooking oils, fats, greases and vegetable oils into a renewable diesel alternative.
It can be used as a direct substitute for traditional white diesel without modifying the engine, making it an attractive, low-disruption route to decarbonisation.
According to Highland Fuels, HVO can cut up to 90 per cent of net carbon emissions immediately, while offering a cleaner burn that helps engines run more efficiently.
Highland Fuels, which has supplied fuel to local and national businesses since 1957, has been investing heavily in renewable energy solutions as part of its mission to support the transition to net zero.
Daniel McDermott from Highland Fuels said:
“We are excited to support and partner with Highland Council on their journey to achieving net zero goals.
“We are dedicated to helping our customers and local communities transition to a more sustainable future by providing low-carbon liquid fuels.”
For Highland Council, this initiative is more than a technical trial, it’s a statement of intent.
By embracing new technologies and working with industry partners, the Council aims to demonstrate how practical changes at a local level can drive meaningful progress toward national climate targets.
From recycled chip oil to renewable transport, it’s a transformation that symbolises Highland innovation at its best, turning waste into energy, and ambition into action.
