Lorry fleet will be fuelled by waste (From Swindon Advertiser)

Lorry fleet will be fuelled by waste

9:30pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

HOUSEHOLD waste is to be used to fuel a fleet of trucks at a huge distribution depot in the town.

The UK’s largest home improvement retailer, B&Q, is continuing its attempts to make its fleet greener by announcing the arrival of 50 dual fuel lorries, which are powered by natural gas produced by waste.

Swindon Council have just granted planning permission for the firm to invest in its own biomethane gas filling station at the Swindon Distribution Centre, in South Marston.

Around 60 per cent of the fuel used to power the lorries will be biomethane, a natural source of renewable energy which is produced from purifying and liquefying landfill gas and other waste methane streams. The use of this natural gas, produced at a landfill site in Surrey, helps to reduce pollution and cut waste.

Michelle Thomas, retail logistics service manager at B&Q said: “We’re pleased to announce the introduction of 50 dual fuel lorries which is helping us meet our 2023 deadline to cut transport carbon emissions ahead of time. “Other initiatives include 500 new double decker lorries and the replacement of 78 smaller energy efficient delivery vans. We’re also strengthening our focus on transporting more of our products by rail to save on road miles.”

Last year B&Q committed to reduce its CO2 emissions from business travel and haulage to 50 per cent by 2023, and so far the the firm has managed to achieve a cut of 36 per cent.

A number of initiatives have driven this achievement including a new dual stock holding distribution facility in Swindon, allowing B&Q to hold the same product in the North and South, greatly reducing the number of miles travelled to store by B&Q lorries.

At this new site, B&Q has introduced 50 new dual fuel tractor units following a successful trial last year. The 25 Mercedes and 25 Volvo units have been introduced to the new distribution centre in Swindon and are powered by biomethane, produced by the retailer’s partners Gasrec and it is hoped they will reduce travel carbon emissions by a further 11 per cent.