Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the public health impacts of recycled carbon fuels through air pollution as compared to existing fuels and other alternative fuels such as those made from biomass.

My Department has regular meetings with representatives from across the transport fuel sector where the government’s policy approach for recycled carbon fuel (RCF) is discussed. The policy on supporting and assessing RCFs has also been the subject of two public consultations, the first in spring 2021 followed by a second on detailed proposals last summer.

As set out in the July 2021 Government response to the consultation “Targeting Net Zero, next steps for the Renewable Transport Fuels”, RCFs supplied in transport will need to meet existing petrol and diesel fuel standards. This will ensure the air quality emissions standards of RCFs will not fall below those of the fossil fuels they replace. The Department understands that the direct use of RCF derived pyrolysis oils can increase air pollutants, but these fuels will not be supported under the proposals to support RCFs.