Louisville, Colorado, is first city to adopt fully electric waste management fleet

Republic Services of Denver, a subsidiary of Republic Services Inc., and the city of Louisville, Colorado, have partnered to replace the city’s residential recycling and waste collection fleet with electric trucks by the end of 2024—the first time a U.S. municipality has adopted a fully electric residential collection fleet.

Louisville will be the first city in the nation to use a 100 percent-electric fleet of waste and recycling collection vehicles, the Gazette reports. Phoenix-based Republic, which has been testing fleets of electric vehicles (EVs) and using them elsewhere in the country piecemeal, has committed to having the fleet servicing Louisville fully electric by the end of the year.

“We are so proud that Louisville will be the first city in the nation with a fully electric collection fleet,” Louisville Mayor Chris Leh says in a news release. “These innovative EV collection trucks will fulfill our trash, compost and recycling needs, reduce noise pollution and include larger windshields to increase each driver’s field of vision and lower greenhouse gas emissions, making our neighborhoods quieter, safer and healthier.

“The technology already has been proven in other cities with more challenging climates than ours. What’s more, it is cost-competitive for our taxpayers. By taking this step, Louisville is ‘walking the walk’ and helping pioneer change in the field of environmental sustainability.”

Republic has contracted with Louisville for the past five years. During the latest contract renewal process, Republic offered to continue with its existing fleet or convert fully to EVs, according to the report. Given the city’s climate goals, it opted for the option to convert to EVs. Republic will own and operate the vehicles.

“EV collection trucks have been strategically placed in markets throughout the country so that we can see how they perform under various conditions,” Jeremy Walters, external communications manager for Republic, tells the Gazette. “Our research vehicles in colder environments have exceeded our performance expectations and will be ready for duty upon delivery.”

The fleet serving Lousville will include four McNeilus Volterra EVs, the industry’s first fully integrated electric recycling and waste trucks. Developed with insights from Republic Services, these trucks prioritize safety in addition to producing zero tailpipe emissions, according to Republic. Key safety features include 360-degree cameras, an enlarged windshield for improved visibility, lane-departure sensors, automated braking and audible devices that alert nearby drivers and pedestrians to compensate for their quieter operations.

By the end of this year, Republic Services expects to be operating more than 50 EVs across the country.