As part of an effort to combat climate change, the City of Ballarat is set to run its entire fleet on biodiesel.

The conversion to environmentally friendly biofuel will enable the council to achieve a fuel cost saving of $67,000 and a reduction of carbon emissions by 280 tonnes per year.

Ballarat City Council chief executive Anthony Schinck said the council will be one of the first Victorian councils to operate its entire fleet on biodiesel, bringing social, economic and environmental benefits.

“The B20 biodiesel blend, with an ingredient base of 80 per cent recycled cooking oil and 20 per cent animal fats and canola oil, will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15 per cent and produce less particulate matter,” he said.

The decision came after the council’s completion of a 15-month pilot program operating more than 30 vehicles on BioMax’s B20 biodiesel. The results were vehicle performance equivalent to straight diesel and a reduction in greenhouse emissions.

Managing director of the Victor Smorgon Group, owner of BioMax, Peter Edwards said many private and public companies have converted to biodiesel.

“Like the City of Ballarat, many other companies have trialled biodiesel and confirmed that it functions in the engine much the same way as petroleum diesel, maintaining vehicle performance, payload capacity and distance range,” he said. 

Mr Schinck said the council’s move towards biodiesel would provide other organisations with an example to follow.

“Our decision to convert our entire fleet of trucks, waste and recycling compactors, tractors and mowers to biodiesel has generated much interest from other councils and we hope our lead gives them the impetus to make the conversion to biodiesel,” he said.