Vacation in Progress and Today's Garbage Collection; Excited for the Future When All Garbage Trucks Run on Electric Power
In a significant shift towards sustainable waste management, cities across North America and Europe are embracing electric garbage trucks. These vehicles, known for their practical improvements and environmental benefits, are becoming a common sight in urban landscapes.
Leading the charge in the United States is the City of Roses, Portland, Oregon. City of Roses Disposal and Recycling, a key player in the city's waste management, has seen real-world gains after deploying the Peterbilt Model 520EV. The switch to electric has resulted in reduced fuel costs and lower maintenance costs, making a substantial impact on the city's operations. The deployment was supported, in part, by grants from Portland General Electric’s Drive Change Fund.
Madison, Wisconsin, another city at the forefront of this movement, has also jumped on the electric bandwagon. The city has already deployed over 100 electric vehicles, 150 hybrids, and 62 electric buses. Madison's investment in electric refuse vehicles is about proving the value of these trucks in real-world conditions, tracking their performance, and documenting the long-term financial benefits. Two Class 8 Mack LR Electric garbage trucks were added to its refuse fleet starting in early 2024, with plans to expand. These trucks deliver over 1,000 horsepower and recharge fully in under two hours, aligning with Madison’s carbon neutrality goals and cleaner municipal fleet initiatives.
New York City is another city making strides in this area. Mack Trucks delivered the first Mack LR Electric refuse truck to Royal Waste, a Waste Connections company, in the Bronx. This deployment is part of the Bronx is Breathing initiative, funded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and involves partnerships aiming to reduce air pollution and advance clean transportation.
The trend isn't limited to North America. Barcelona, Spain, is collaborating with local partners to revolutionize waste collection using electric trucks, as part of a broader European shift to electromobility. Renault Trucks reports over 2,700 electric trucks in operation across Europe as of May 2025, including those used for waste collection.
Even in smaller cities, the shift towards electric garbage trucks is evident. In Finland, for instance, electric garbage trucks have become more common, especially in larger cities. Many of these trucks are operated with bio fuels, demonstrating the versatility of these vehicles.
The quieter, cleaner, and cost-effective operations of electric garbage trucks are making them an attractive option for municipalities. These vehicles drive relatively short daily routes and can be recharged nightly, making them ideal for urban environments. The new generation of Mack trucks offers more than 40 percent additional power over earlier models and can fully recharge in under two hours. Regenerative braking in electric garbage trucks extends range and lowers maintenance costs over time.
As more municipalities embrace this change, electric heavy-duty vehicles, such as garbage trucks, could become the norm in the future. The examples set by cities like Portland, Madison, New York, Barcelona, and many others demonstrate that electric garbage trucks are not just a passing trend, but a significant step towards a cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable future.
[1] Portland General Electric’s Drive Change Fund: https://www.pgn.com/about-us/drive-change-fund/ [2] New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ [3] Renault Trucks: https://www.renaulttrucks.com/ [4] City of Erie, Pennsylvania: https://www.eriepa.gov/
- The shift towards environmental-science, particularly in waste management, has inspired cities like Portland, Oregon, Madison, Wisconsin, New York City, and Barcelona, Spain, to adopt electric garbage trucks as part of their strategy.
- As more cities, even smaller ones such as Erie, Pennsylvania, embrace the use of electric garbage trucks, there's an increasing belief that they could become the standard in the future, reinforcing the value of lifestyle choices that prioritize technology and climate-change solutions.
