In an effort to help reduce greenhouse gas, help improve local air quality and save money, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Solid Waste Services (DSWS) has put into service the first 20 of 100 refuse and recycling collection trucks powered with compressed natural gas.

County Executive Ike Leggett today joined DEP Director Bob Hoyt and Solid Waste Services and Unity Disposal and Recycling officials at the fueling station on Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville to announce the conversion of the County’s fleet of refuse and recycling trucks Unity Disposal and Recycling is the County’s trash/recycling collection contractor.

The first 20 trucks were used for the first time in April. Twenty additional trucks will enter service July 1, and the remaining 60 vehicles will be phased in over the next two years.

Because they are powered with compressed natural gas, the trucks will be much quieter than their diesel-powered predecessors. But the brightly colored blue and white trucks displaying the message “Think Green, Breathe Clean, Compressed Natural Gas” will be very easy to see in Montgomery County neighborhoods.

Nationwide figures indicate that, on the average, CNG costs are 15 percent less than diesel fuel. Moreover, 97 percent of the natural gas used in the U.S. is produced in the country.

“The cost-effectiveness of CNG vehicles is just another bonus, considering the positive effect that these vehicles can have on the environment,” said Leggett. “I’m especially proud of the fact that once again, Montgomery County is leading the way regionally when it comes to an environmental impact program.”

The environmental benefits of compressed natural gas include:

• Reducing smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by 80 percent;

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 10 to 15 percent;

• Reducing asthma-causing particulate matter by 74 to 90 percent; and

• Providing cleaner air for collection personnel and residents.

”The new CNG refuse trucks meet the stringent 2010 heavy duty diesel vehicle emission standards, producing far less smog forming compounds and particulate matter than the older diesel trash truck fleet. Our new fleet of over 100 CNG powered collection trucks will go a long way to improve our air quality”, said Bob Hoyt, director of Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information about the CNG trucks, contact Robin Ennis, Collections Section chief, Division of Solid Waste Services, at 240-777-6401 or email robin.ennis@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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Media contact: Bonnie Ayers, 240-777-6507
Program details: Robin Ennis, 240-777-6401