The Long Road to Decarbonising Waste Transportation

By John Gowran (Head of Transport).

One of the biggest challenges in decarbonising the waste management sector is reducing emissions from waste transportation, particularly the transition of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fleets to low-carbon alternatives. While the exact solution remains uncertain, one thing is clear: change is inevitable, and we must seize the opportunity to make progress.

The UK government’s Decarbonising Transport strategy outlines a phase-out of new fossil-fuel vehicle sales by 2035 for cars and vans, and by 2040 for HGVs over 26 tonnes. However, the Climate Change Committee estimates that only a third of the necessary 2030 emissions reductions are covered by credible plans. Waste fleet managers face increasing pressure to adapt, yet many are unsure where to begin.

At Powerday, we started actively monitoring our carbon footprint in 2021 and set a net zero target for Scope 1 (fleet and plant) and Scope 2 (purchased electricity) by 2040, with interim milestones:

While setting out the roadmap was the easy part, executing it is far more complex. We are still navigating the best low-carbon replacements for our HGV fleet, but we’re making significant investments and operational changes to push forward.

In 2022, we replaced all 15 combustion engine company cars with electric vehicles (EVs) and installed ten charging points at our Old Oak Sidings site. While range anxiety and inadequate UK charging infrastructure posed challenges, the transition was a success. Employees adapted, and as the number of fast chargers across the UK has grown, concerns have eased.

Building on this, we are looking into transition our small vans and pickup trucks to electric from 2025. While van ranges remain limited, this shift, though incremental, keeps us on track.

Following short-term trials in 2022/23, we made the decision to order two fully electric Volvo skip loaders in July 2023, the first of their kind in London. We installed two additional charging points, made careful decisions around route planning, and assigned drivers.

The vehicles, which arrived in January 2024 on a five-year lease, have performed well despite minor teething issues. While range remains the only real limitation, they have matched the performance of our diesel models, demonstrating that electric skip loaders can be a viable alternative, at least in the right conditions.

Currently, these vehicles operate from our Willesden Junction site, where shorter travel distances make electric a practical option. However, for locations requiring longer journeys, current battery ranges remain a challenge. As we continue evaluating costs, carbon savings, and driver feedback, these insights will shape our future investment in electric HGVs.

To bridge the gap while awaiting technological advancements, we trialed Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel in 2023. Early attempts were problematic, with vehicle breakdowns, but knowing others had successfully adopted HVO, we persisted.

In 2024, we restarted trials with a controlled, phased approach, introducing HVO in new vehicles from day one and using mobile refueling. Now, we operate 39 skip vehicles on HVO and have installed on-site HVO tanks in Willesden and Enfield. While HVO is more expensive than diesel, it has delivered the majority of our further 5% carbon reduction in 2024, now standing at a 30.5% reduction, making it a key short- to medium-term solution.

Recognising the need for structured action, we established a Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy Team in 2024, led by our managing director and supported by external consultants. This team focuses on:

This structured approach maintains momentum while ensuring we continue providing high-quality service to clients.

Our journey continues with ongoing EV and HVO trials, alongside exploring alternative technologies. We also remain committed to rail and canal transportation, which offer promising emissions reductions.

A key focus now is driver behavior, with integrating environmental sustainability into training and building on our existing efforts around efficiency and safety. As part of Powerday’s Carbon Working Group, we will extend carbon and climate training to the transport team this year.

Additionally, in 2025, we will set a Scope 3 net zero target (covering our indirect emissions). This means evaluating supplier choices and procurement strategies to align with our fleet decarbonisation goals.

Decarbonising a busy transport operation is no easy task. The day-to-day demands of managing a fleet can easily take priority, which is why fleet decarbonisation must be embedded within company-wide strategies.

Success also depends on industry-wide collaboration. We actively engage with suppliers, clients, and organisations such as Logistics UK’s Route to Net Zero because we cannot achieve this alone.

The path to fleet decarbonisation is uncertain, but waiting for perfect solutions isn’t an option. By taking bold steps, learning from trials, and remaining adaptable, we are making meaningful progress toward a more sustainable future for waste transportation.

Visit our Sustainability Manifesto page to learn more about our sustainability priorities and strategy.