Trucks moving containers across southeast Queensland will run a pilot of renewable diesel as part of Containers for Change.
Container Exchange (COEX), the not-for-profit organisation that runs Queensland’s container refund scheme, is partnering with waste management and resource recovery company Cleanaway to reduce emissions when transporting containers for recycling.
The 12-month pilot with Cleanaway will see part of the fleet transporting containers across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast running on HVO100, supplied by Viva Energy Australia.
HVO100 is a fossil fuel alternative made from renewable resources, such as used cooking oil that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 91 per cent.
COEX CEO Natalie Roach said the move to low-carbon fuel reflected COEX’s commitment to maximising the environmental, social and economic impacts of Queensland’s container refund scheme.
“More than 1.5 billion containers are returned in southeast Queensland through Containers for Change every year. That’s over half of the state’s total,” Roach said.
“Through our pilot with Cleanaway, where renewable diesel is used, containers will travel with a smaller carbon footprint, ensuring the recycling process is as clean as the outcomes it delivers.”
Cleanaway General Manager of Container Deposit Schemes Stuart Baird said he was excited by the prospect of reducing emissions through use of the alternative fuel.
“We are proud to be able to bring vehicles powered by HVO100 renewable diesel to the Containers for Change scheme to reduce the emissions associated with the collection and transportation of eligible containers,” he said.
“We are looking forward to working closely with COEX to continue to deliver more sustainable outcomes for Queensland.”
Containers for Change is Queensland’s largest community facing recycling system.
More than 11 billion containers have been returned to refund points since November 2018, putting $1.1 billion in 10-cent refunds back into pockets of Queenslanders.
