fueling change Converting one refuse truck from diesel to natural gas is the equivalent of removing 325 cars from the road in terms of pollution reduction.1 Natural gas. The clear energy choice.
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NATURAL GAS ELIMINATES up to
PERCENT FEWER NON-METHANE EMISSIONS
than conventional diesel, which means inhaling fewer toxins into our lungs3
fueling change natural gas in the refuse industry did you know? all of the refuse trucks in Smithtown, New York run on natural gas11
did you know? natural gas can be created from the waste refuse trucks carry everyday to landfills, ultimately leading to a sustainable closed loop system
did you know? Waste Management trucks in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia use natural gas refuse trucks for a smaller carbon footprint12
The face of the refuse industry is changing. The number of natural gas-powered refuse trucks on the road in the U.S. has increased from 240 in 1998 to an estimated 2,221 in 2010. This increase in numbers is a direct result of the benefits associated with driving a natural gas refuse truck instead of a diesel or biodieselfueled truck. The benefits include longer vehicle life, lower fuel costs, equal maintenance costs, less emissions pollution and less noise pollution. Several different models of natural gas refuse trucks are available including Peterbilt and Mack. Only one natural gas heavy-duty engine exists for these trucks, the Cummins Westport ISL G. It has been reported by drivers of these vehicles that there is no noticeable difference between the natural gas ISL G CNG engine and the ISL diesel engine.2
economic benefits Payback Period by Fleet Size5
did you know? natural gas refuse trucks easily match the horsepower and torque of their diesel counterparts13
natural gas costs 20 to 40 percent less than diesel fuel4
social virtues natural gas-powered refuse truck engines are significantly quieter than those of diesel refuse trucks6 diesel-powered refuse trucks can generate noise levels as high as 100 decibels, which is high enough to cause permanent hearing damage – quieter natural gas trucks protect workers from hearing damage6 less noise means quieter streets, quieter nights and more peaceful sleeps6 natural gas is a domestically abundant fuel and every truck powered by natural gas enhances our energy and economic security by reducing our reliance on foreign oil7 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that occupational exposure to diesel exhaust increases the risk of lung cancer between 20 and 50 percent7 clean air is especially important to children whose developing bodies are more vulnerable than adults due to the adverse effects of diesel exhaust6 natural gas is lighter than air and quickly disperses into the atmosphere8 liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a clear, odourless, non-toxic, non-corrosive cryogenic liquid9 natural gas, compressed and liquefied, will evaporate into the air in the event of a leak or accident unlike gasoline or diesel that will pool on the ground, creating a fire hazard1 the fuel storage cylinders used in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are stronger than gasoline fuel tanks – as a U.S. federal requirement, CNG cylinders undergo intense testing and evaluation to ensure durability of the tank to outside forces8
Noise in Decibels6 Behind refuse truck
Alongside refuse truck
Inside cab 0
20
40
60
80
Decibels Natural gas
Diesel
Sources 1 NGVAmerica 2 WIH - Alternative Fuel Study for Refuse Collection Vehicles 3 America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) 4 www.ngvontario.com/refuse.pdf 5 National Renewable Energy Laboratory 6 www.informinc.org/FS_ST_NYC_Refuse.pdf 7 Baruch College with Council on the Environment of New York City, “Neighborhood Noise and its Consequences,” December 2004 8 DriveClean 9 Clean Vehicle Education Foundation 10 NGVAmerica, Environmental Protection Agency, DOE, Chesapeake Energy 11 Joanna D. Underwood, Municipal World, “Garbage Truck Fleets: A Great Way to Go Green,” January 2009 12 FCM Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show 13 www.cleanenergyfuels.com/refuse/CE-OS.SolidWaste-f.pdf 14 City of Toronto 15 U.S. Department of Energy
environmental impacts
NATURAL GAS-POWERED REFUSE TRUCKS PRODUCE
90
up to
PERCENT FEWER CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS
than diesel-powered refuse trucks3
Emissions Reductions for Natural Gas Vehicles Compared to Diesel Trucks11 Carbon dioxide
20-30%
Carbon monoxide
70-90%
Sulfur dioxide
99%
Nitrogen oxide
75-95%
Particulate matter
90%
Volatile organic compounds 89%
did you know? the City of Toronto plans to convert its entire fleet of 300 waste trucks to run on natural gas created from organic material collected by the Green Bin recycling program14
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local air quality improves as natural gas trucks produce less carbon monoxide, fewer volatile organic compounds and lower levels of oxides of nitrogen compared to diesel trucks4 in New York City, a study found natural gas-powered refuse trucks emit 32 to 73 percent less nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions than diesel-fueled refuse trucks, which leads to less smog6, 11 22 percent less greenhouse gas emissions6 natural gas also eliminates 69 to 83 percent fewer non-methane emissions which means inhaling fewer toxins into our lungs3 using natural gas-powered refuse trucks instead of diesel reduces carbon monoxide emissions by 70 to 90 percent3 natural gas refuse trucks reduce particulate matter by 90 percent compared to diesel trucks3, 4 natural gas is a cleaner fuel than diesel or biodiesel, which means natural gas creates less pollution in our atmosphere1 using natural gas, a low carbon fuel, instead of diesel in refuse trucks emits an estimated 20 percent or 10 to 12 tonnes less greenhouse gas emissions per truck annually1
refuse in action: changing the way we collect refuse as a part of the federal Green Cities project, the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition will introduce 277 heavy-duty natural gas refuse trucks and buses, along with four new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations, throughout Newark, Camden, Trenton, Atlantic City and Egg Harbor Township3 the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation recorded a 23 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions through the use of natural gas in its fleet15 in an evaluation of freight trucks, CNG trucks produced 25 percent lower nitrogen oxide emissions and more than 90 percent lower particulate matter emissions compared with diesel trucks1 the City of Ogden, Utah saves $135,000 each year due to reduced fuel costs from natural gas3 Smithtown, New York required that all refuse haulers serving the community must switch from diesel-powered to natural gas-powered refuse trucks by January 2007 – as a result, 265 tonnes of nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced3 Seattle’s waste management fleet added 106 CNG vehicles to its fleet of collection vehicles as replacement for older diesel models and saw a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions using natural gas trucks over the life of the truck3 Columbus, Ohio saved $33,600 each year on fuel costs from each of its natural gas refuse trucks3
We believe in natural gas. We believe it’s the fuel for the 21st century. For power generation. For vehicle fuel. As a domestic energy solution. Most important – to lower emissions. We figure that’s something worth talking about. We are Encana. Learn more about natural gas and Encana at www.encana.com twitter.com/encanacorp
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