Innovative technology developed in the UK is to be fitted to waste collection vehicles in Westminster in an attempt to reduce harmful emissions and nitrogen oxide by 99 per cent.

The technology will replace the exhaust systems of the trucks, filtering the emissions of the heavy-duty diesel vehicles to achieve emissions reductions in line with London’s upcoming air quality targets.

The technology was developed by Eminox in partnership with Westminster City Council and Veolia and trialled on two Westminster City Council Euro 5 refuse collection vehicles (RCVs). After testing in both the field and in the lab, the device has been accredited by the Energy Saving Trust and the Clean Vehicle and Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS), formally recognising the system as an effective solution to reach clean air targets.

The developers say that the technology will allow the vehicles to stay within the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) targets set by Transport for London, which will be put in place in central London from April next year. The target means most vehicles will have to meet the new, stricter exhaust emission standards or pay a daily charge to travel through the ULEZ – which could be up to £100 on larger vehicles.

Councillor Tim Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management, said: “Poor air quality is a major concern for our residents – that’s why we’re using new technology to tackle the problem in a world first.”

The government has been responding to these fears over poor air quality. It pledged to ban all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040, while electric cars have been on the rise; an all-electric waste collection vehicle even toured the UK over the summer. Yet, Eminox’s new technology promises to reduce the harmful effects of diesel vehicles by rethinking its design and potentially extending the days of diesel.

Mitchell continued: “Westminster is a leader in improving air quality and councils across the UK have eagerly followed the project’s progress. Investing in technologies like this scheme is how we’re creating a healthier and greener city.”

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Pascal Hauret, Regional Director for Veolia London, said: “As one of the UK’s largest fleet operators, we play a crucial role delivering cleaner air for London and across the UK. Veolia has been trialling low emission vehicle technologies with industry leaders like Eminox since 2012, and we’re now ideally placed to support the shift to low emissions, improving air quality in Westminster and beyond.

“We’re delighted to have worked with Westminster City Council and Eminox to lead the waste sector in adopting this technology which represents a huge opportunity for cities across the country.”

Eminox designed the new technology after Westminster City Council agreed to retrofit its vehicles with the invention, as long as it was successfully accredited under the CVRAS for ULEZ.

The device works by putting together a Diesel Particulate Filter with Selective Catalytic Reduction and Amminex ASDS technology. An industry first, this device should be able to rejuvenate older diesel vehicles to Euro VI standards.

Find out more about the world’s first ULEZ on the London Assembly website.