Liverpool City Council is preparing to deploy up to 36 waste collection vehicles powered by hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO)—a major step towards meeting new UK-wide food-waste collection laws set to take effect in April 2026. Part of a £4.4M initiative, the plan includes distributing thousands of food-waste bins to households and significantly reducing the city’s CO2 emissions—HVO emits up to 98% less CO₂ than diesel..

Council documents also reveal proposals for a regional food-waste processing facility, which could handle up to 80,000 tonnes annually, reduce transport costs, and support future biogas infrastructure.

Food waste makes up over a third of household waste in the city. With Liverpool still ranking among the UK's poorest recycling performers, the council sees this as a turning point.

The proposal will go before the City Council’s cabinet next week