Recology Pilots Electric Garbage Truck

Recology launched the pilot of a fully electric residential garbage truck in Santa Rosa this week. This exciting initiative is part of their ongoing commitment to exploring sustainable solutions and transitioning to a zero-emissions future. Recology has long been a leader in adopting alternative fuel vehicles. In Seattle, the company introduced the nation's first fully electric collection vehicles and has since conducted multiple EV garbage truck pilots. This year, they also led the country's first trial of a hydrogen-powered garbage truck with a Hyzon hydrogen-powered residential collection vehicle in San Francisco.

This latest pilot features the McNeilus Volterra ZSL, a 3-axle side-load garbage truck designed for residential routes. The Volterra boasts a runtime of 11-12 hours-a critical improvement over previous EV pilots that offered only about 8 hours of operation, which fell short of the needs of local communities. Quiet and equipped with advanced safety features, this truck aligns with the cutting-edge technology found in modern passenger vehicles, bringing both efficiency and enhanced safety to waste management operations.

This week, Recology is putting the McNeilus Volterra ZSL to the test on full routes across Sonoma County. The goal is to assess whether it meets the demands of a typical 12-hour workday, which is standard for the existing fleet. While this pilot shows promise, the journey to full implementation involves significant considerations, particularly with respect to cost. Transitioning to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) entails substantial investments, with each electric collection vehicle priced at over $1 million-more than double the cost of the current fleet-not to mention the additional expenses of charging infrastructure.

Despite the challenges, Recology is leading the way in adopting green technologies. This pilot represents a meaningful step toward reducing emissions and meeting the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ZEV requirements. The company is committed to partnering with the communities they serve to drive this energy transition and conducting the necessary research to implement sustainable solutions effectively.

Together, we can pave the way for a cleaner, greener future.