MP Launches Bio-Bus
30th October 2007
Des Browne, Secretary of State for Scotland last week launched the UK’s first Bio-buses under a ground-breaking pilot project in Scotland.
Eight of Stagecoach’s vehicles in Kilmarnock will run on bio-diesel manufactured from used cooking oil and other food industry by-products, resulting in an expected 960 tonnes cut in CO2 emissions per year. The bio-diesel is produced from tallow and used cooking oil, both of which are sustainable feedstock sources that do not involve the destruction of natural habitats or compete with the human food chain.
Passengers will also be able to help fuel the buses by exchanging their used cooking oil for discounted bus travel under a unique environmental incentive scheme.
Mr Browne said that he welcomed this ground breaking and highly innovative collaboration between two leading companies in their fields.
He added:
“It is particularly important that the project is using bio fuel from wholly recycled material and not from a source competing with food production. The Government is in the process of introducing a renewable transport fuel obligation designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions from transport. Stagecoach and Argent are to be congratulated for their efforts to support the development of clean and sustainable transport fuels by setting up this project.”
Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said:
“This innovative project is a great opportunity for our customers to play their part in saving the planet by recycling household products that would otherwise go to waste. I’m sure the idea of cheaper travel in exchange for the contents of your chip pan will capture people’s imagination."
