Göttingen Waste Management Cuts Fleet CO₂ Emissions

Göttingen Waste Management slashes emissions with HVO100 fuel switch

Göttingen Waste Management (GEB) is reducing the carbon footprint of its vehicle fleet by adopting synthetic diesel fuel and electric mobility.

As an interim solution, GEB first turned to synthetic diesel—known as HVO100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)—produced by hydrogenating bio-based materials such as used cooking oils and waste fats. This fuel is highly effective in achieving carbon neutrality. The transition was implemented swiftly, requiring almost no investment in infrastructure or vehicles, making the technology immediately available.

Nearly all of GEB's 120-plus vehicles, including refuse trucks, street sweepers, and container transporters, have seamlessly switched to HVO100, cutting annual CO₂ emissions by approximately 1,800 metric tons.

For the long term, however, GEB is committed to electric mobility—provided the electricity comes from renewable sources. The company has already conducted summer and winter trials with an electric refuse truck. The results were overwhelmingly positive: the vehicle performed reliably in both high summer temperatures and cold winter conditions. Employees particularly praised the significantly reduced noise levels and fewer vibrations, while residents noted the truck's quiet, eco-friendly operation.

Though full infrastructure for electric vehicles still needs to be developed, GEB remains confident that—even with the short-term shift to synthetic diesel—it is on a forward-looking path toward decarbonizing its fleet.