: News
By Matt Bush
More garbage trucks will start running on natural gas rather than diesel in Montgomery County, Maryland.
The county has set a goal of 2012 to have all of its garbage and recycling trucks running on natural gas. The first are now in use.
Jerald Boyd is with Unity Disposal and Recycling, which operates garbage trucks for the county. He says they are seeing financial benefits already, since compressed natural gas costs 15 percent less than diesel.
"Financially we have a lot of costs savings. But, environmentally, and just our customer service to the community savings are much greater," says Boyd.
Boyd also notes the garbage trucks may become less noticeable to residents.
"The natural gas engine is considerably quieter than the diesel engines," he says.
County leaders say the natural gas trucks will reduce smog causing pollution by 80 percent.
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