Britain's first "poo bus", which runs entirely on gas generated by human and food waste, is to go into regular service later this month.
Powered by biomethane gas, the Bio-Bus will use waste from more than 32,000 households along its 15-mile route.
The 40-seat “Bio-Bus” runs on biomethane gas, generated through the treatment of sewage and food waste. It can travel up to 186 miles on one tank of gas, which takes the annual waste of around five people to produce.
The company also became the first in the UK to inject gas generated from human and food waste into the national gas grid network.
Charlotte Morton, chief executive of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association, added: “A home generated green gas, biomethane, is capable of replacing around 10% of the UK’s domestic gas needs and is currently the only renewable fuel available for HGVs.
“The bus also clearly shows that human poo and our waste food are valuable resources.
“Food which is unsuitable for human consumption should be separately collected and recycled through anaerobic digestion into green gas and biofertilizers, not wasted in landfill sites or incinerators.”
Operated by bus company First West of England, the bus will fill up at a site in
The bus, which can seat up to 40 people, was unveiled in the Bristol area last autumn.
The gas is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works, run by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water. It produces fewer emissions than traditional diesel engines and is both renewable and sustainable.
Mohammed Saddiq, the general manager of GENeco, said: “Through treating sewage and food that’s unfit for human consumption we’re able to produce enough biomethane to provide a significant supply of gas to the national gas network that’s capable of powering almost 8,500 homes as well as fuelling the Bio-Bus.
“Gas-powered vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality in UK cities, but the Bio-Bus goes further than that and is actually powered by people living in the local area, including quite possibly those on the bus itself.”
Transport company First is showing off the bus in Bristol on Tuesday and it will operate four days a week on Service 2, which stretches from Cribbs Causeway to Stockwood, from 25 March.
If the route proves a success, First will consider introducing more "poo buses".
First West of England managing director James Freeman said: "Since its original unveiling last year the Bio-Bus has generated worldwide attention and so it's our great privilege to bring it to the city, to operate - quite rightly - on Service 2.
Engineers believe the bus could provide a sustainable way of fuelling public transport while improving urban air quality.
"The Bio-Bus previously made an appearance running between Bath and Bristol Airport at the end of last year, but it's only actually been used once before in the center of Bristol itself."
He went on: "The very fact that it's running in the city should help to open up a serious debate about how buses are best fuelled, and what is good for the environment."
Collin Field, engineering director at Bath Bus Company, said: “Up to 10,000 passengers are expected to travel on the A4 service in a month, which is available not only for airport travel, but also local journeys along the route through Saltford, Keynsham, Brislington, Knowle, and Hengrove.
photo credit: google.com
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