Trash, recycling and yard waste collection will get a lot quieter after the Des Moines City Council approved purchase of the Public Works Department’s first all-electric garbage truck. The approval to purchase this all-electric refuse collector signals the city’s intent to meet aggressive goals of becoming carbon neutral.
Public Works Director Jonathan Gano estimates that the 35 refuse collection trucks use nearly half of the City’s diesel despite representing less than 5% of its 900 vehicle fleet. “Our garbage collection fleet is one of the biggest users of diesel in the City,” Gano said. “Because of the nature of collecting garbage, recycling and yard waste, they stop and start frequently, leading to an inefficient fuel usage. Switching this fleet over to electric will greatly reduce our City’s carbon emissions.”