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Partnering with Boise for a Carbon-neutral Future
For some residents in Boise, Idaho, recycling day has become more sustainable.Byline: BTB Editor
May 11, 2023 / Time to read: 5 minFor some residents in Boise, Idaho, recycling day has become more sustainable.
Republic Services' longstanding relationship with Boise has resulted in an array of sustainable innovations over the years, including our first alternative fuel fleet in 2008 and Southern Idaho's largest compost facility. But most recently, the City of Trees has set its sights on even greater sustainability goals—and we jumped at the chance to help.
The future of cars is electric. Since 2021, we've rolled out three recycling electric vehicles (EVs) to Boise's city services. These 21-ton, fully electric, rear-load trucks look a lot like our current trucks, but they're a far cry from the norm.
Collection vehicles drive short, consistent distances on pre-determined routes, make hundreds of stops throughout the day, and return to a base where they can have a secure place to charge overnight. These conditions are prime for EV operations and make the future of sustainable recycling and waste collection clearer than ever.
Boise, by the numbers
These EV recycling trucks benefit from zero tailpipe emissions and—powered by Idaho's public utility grid—a 93% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over diesel.
Electrification of this fleet makes no compromises to efficiency either. These EV trucks can move up to 120 carts of recycling a day, collect seven tons of material before needing to unload and operate for up to 10 hours a day while completing the same routes as traditional natural gas-powered vehicles.
A greater, greener vision
The numbers look great, but they're all in service of a far greater goal.
The city of Boise has a climate action plan to be carbon neutral by 2050. That means reaching a state of balance by neutralizing their greenhouse gas emissions with techniques to reduce or eliminate emissions completely.
Now, they're one step closer to a sustainable future—and that's one way we're helping communities put sustainability in action.
At Republic Services, our fleet electrification in Boise is just one of many ways we're partnering with customers to support local sustainability goals. Interested in learning how we can put your sustainability plans in motion? Check out more examples of our efforts in our
