The city of Auburn could eventually power some of its trash trucks with some of the trash they carry.

City officials are considering the purchase of two trash packers that run on natural gas. The packers would be used by the public works department instead of gasoline-powered machines.

City councilors will get to view one of the packers and discuss the possible purchase next Thursday during a council meeting. The meeting will start at 4 p.m. and will take place at Memorial City Hall, 24 South St.

The demonstration was originally scheduled for today's work session meeting of the council before it was postponed.

According to City Manager Mark Palesh, the vehicle is being driven up from Philadelphia for the demonstration. Palesh said Monday that running two natural gas packers falls in line with the city's other alternative energy projects, such as the methane digester which will use landfill sludge to create methane gas.

The methane that will be produced can then be used as fuel for the vehicles, Palesh said.

“It completes the entire cycle,” Palesh said. “Auburn is trying to be the greenest city in New York, not just in western New York.”

The city's public works department currently has six packers it uses to pick up trash and recycling. Normally, the city operates three packers at a given time and uses one for backup, Palesh said.

There could be one downside if the city council eventually chooses to purchase the two natural gas-powered machines. Because of the high demand for the technology, the city will have to wait up to three months longer than it normally would before it receives the new vehicles, Palesh said.

“You have to stand in line if you want to order one,” he said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net