AUBURN - Auburn city officials had a chance Wednesday to take a first-hand look at a trash truck powered by natural gas. And this morning, garbage pickup crews will get to take it for a spin.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
A natural gas-powered refuse compactor is displayed at Auburn's city hall Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle, on loan to the city for two days, will be tested along a city trash route today as officials consider purchasing two of the vehicles.
A natural gas-powered refuse compactor is displayed at Auburn's city hall Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle, on loan to the city for two days, will be tested along a city trash route today as officials consider purchasing two of the vehicles.
The vehicle - an Autocar Xpeditor refuse compactor - was driven up from Pennsylvania to city hall for staff and council members. The city is considering purchasing two of the compactors for the public works department, which currently uses diesel-powered trucks.
The compactor is also scheduled to be used this morning on a garbage route, which will give city crews a chance to see how it handles on the streets. The trial run will help
determine whether the city will purchase the compactors, City Manager Mark Palesh said Wednesday.
The city will also examine how it would supply the natural gas and study whether these trucks would be economically feasible, he said. One idea has been to run the trucks with gas generated from the landfill, though regulations limit the vehicles from using 100 percent methane.
The trucks would cost approximately $140,000 each after state and federal rebates, Palesh said.
“We'll just have to see,” Palesh said of the possible purchase.
The natural gas-powered trucks look and drive like their diesel counterparts, with the exception of the fuel being stored above and behind the cab. However, they are noticeably quieter than the city's current refuse trucks.
Jerry DelFavero, superintendent of public works, said the fuel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. Along with the environmental benefits, the cleaner natural gas means less carbon buildup in the oil and on the engine components, DelFavero said.
“This is all still new to me,” he said. “I'm so used to black smoke and a lot of noise.”
DelFavero said he is still learning about the vehicle and its capabilities. As part of today's trial run, the city will calculate how much natural gas the truck uses per mile, he said.
The city's public works department currently has six packers to pick up trash and recycling. Normally, the city operates three packers at a given time and uses one for backup.
If the city opts to purchase the natural gas packers, it could take up to three months longer than it normally would before the new vehicles arrive.
City Councilor William Graney stopped by city hall to look at the truck. He said he was “very impressed” with the truck, especially its noise level.
Residents will not be able to rely on the noise from the trash trucks to wake them up and remind them to take their last trash bag to the curb, Graney joked.
“Hopefully, it will work out to get a couple in the fleet,” Graney said.
Councilor Gilda Brower also came away from the demonstration with a positive view of the vehicle, Brower said. She was even given a quick ride around the block.
The hope now is that purchasing the machines will be economically viable, she said.
“I would like to take it on vacations with me,” Brower said after the ride.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The compactor is also scheduled to be used this morning on a garbage route, which will give city crews a chance to see how it handles on the streets. The trial run will help
determine whether the city will purchase the compactors, City Manager Mark Palesh said Wednesday.
The city will also examine how it would supply the natural gas and study whether these trucks would be economically feasible, he said. One idea has been to run the trucks with gas generated from the landfill, though regulations limit the vehicles from using 100 percent methane.
The trucks would cost approximately $140,000 each after state and federal rebates, Palesh said.
“We'll just have to see,” Palesh said of the possible purchase.
The natural gas-powered trucks look and drive like their diesel counterparts, with the exception of the fuel being stored above and behind the cab. However, they are noticeably quieter than the city's current refuse trucks.
Jerry DelFavero, superintendent of public works, said the fuel burns cleaner than diesel fuel. Along with the environmental benefits, the cleaner natural gas means less carbon buildup in the oil and on the engine components, DelFavero said.
“This is all still new to me,” he said. “I'm so used to black smoke and a lot of noise.”
DelFavero said he is still learning about the vehicle and its capabilities. As part of today's trial run, the city will calculate how much natural gas the truck uses per mile, he said.
The city's public works department currently has six packers to pick up trash and recycling. Normally, the city operates three packers at a given time and uses one for backup.
If the city opts to purchase the natural gas packers, it could take up to three months longer than it normally would before the new vehicles arrive.
City Councilor William Graney stopped by city hall to look at the truck. He said he was “very impressed” with the truck, especially its noise level.
Residents will not be able to rely on the noise from the trash trucks to wake them up and remind them to take their last trash bag to the curb, Graney joked.
“Hopefully, it will work out to get a couple in the fleet,” Graney said.
Councilor Gilda Brower also came away from the demonstration with a positive view of the vehicle, Brower said. She was even given a quick ride around the block.
The hope now is that purchasing the machines will be economically viable, she said.
“I would like to take it on vacations with me,” Brower said after the ride.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
