Did you know 15 of Rumpke’s collection trucks are fueled by garbage? Rumpke continues to replace older, diesel trucks with newer models powered by natural gas produced from the landfill.

In 2011, 10 compressed natural gas (CNG) Rumpke trucks hit the street—trucks that are fueled by natural gas produced at Rumpke Sanitary Landfill in Colerain Township, Ohio. The trucks were part of $3.1 million pilot project with Clean Fuels Ohio that included purchasing the trucks and constructing a slow-fill, compressed natural gas fueling station.

The CNG trucks not only offer another use for landfill gas, but also a 21-26 percent reduction in greenhouse gases.

Using one of the world’s largest landfill gas energy recovery systems, Rumpke removes methane from Rumpke Sanitary Landfill and converts it into natural gas for up to 25,000 homes. Although, the gas is not directly piped to Rumpke’s new CNG filling station, the station is one of the first hits on Duke Energy Corp.’s lines running from the landfill gas recovery system, making it possible for garbage trucks to run on the tri-state's garbage. In the future the gas lines will travel directly from the landfill gas recovery plants to the filling stations.

Rumpke is monitoring fuel economy, reliability, dealer support and driver and mechanic feedback to determine if this system offers a useable and efficient fuel alternative.

According to Natural Gas Vehicles for America there are about 1,000 natural gas vehicle (NGV) fueling stations in the United States and about half of them are open to the public. In the United States, about 30 different manufacturers produce 100 models of light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and engines.

Contact Rumpke Corporate Communications for more information on this subject.