New RBC dog vans now 90% greener!
Last updated: 14/10/2025
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s new hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) vehicles are now being used by its dog warden and pest control team, that will see a 90 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with its previous diesel vans.
The new vans will now travel thousands of miles per year in the new greener format using the fuel that is also being used by many frontline vehicles across the council’s fleet.
It now means that 57 of 69 frontline vehicles across the Council’s waste and Streetwise functions have now made the switch to HVO or electric power as the Council aims for its operations to be carbon neutral by 2030.
HVO is a diesel-quality fuel, made by the hydro-processing of waste oils and fats and is an alternative to the previous standard diesel used by the vehicles.
It means reduced nitrous oxide emissions and the longer-term storage stability make it a complete replacement for the previous fuel.
The authority’s dog wardens looks after dozens of lost and stray pooches every year and educates owners on responsible dog ownership and can contacted by calling 0115 981 9911.
The Council's environmental health service offers treatments for a variety of pest types such as wasps, mice and fleas. Find out more and to book the services.
RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis said: “It’s great to see more of our vehicle fleet moving to a fully carbon clever alternative with the successful continued roll out of HVO and electric vehicles.
“These ongoing changes are an essential part of our journey to becoming greener in our operations as we continue to implement strategies to help reduce the environmental impact of our vehicles.
“We now have 51 HVO and six electric powered vehicles in our frontline fleet as we will continue to look at converting the remaining vehicles in due course.
“HVO offers a greener option for the day to day running of our vehicles as we continue to further explore electric vehicles and other alternatives as the technology develops, with further work needed on charging infrastructure and sustainability of electric vehicles due to the cost, range and rural nature of parts of the Borough.
“The team are enjoying using the new vehicles and playing their part in creating a better environment across Rushcliffe.”