Minnesota’s cleanest refuse trucks working Randy’s Environmental Services routes

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 25, 2011 — The first refuse haulers in Minnesota powered by alternative fuel have hit the streets of the Minneapolis suburbs while dramatically cutting vehicle emissions.

Randy’s Environmental Services, a family-owned hauler serving more than 100,000 businesses and homes, put two new trucks into service today fueled by cleaner, quieter compressed natural gas (CNG), an alternative fuel approved by federal authorities. By October, a dozen more CNG-powered trucks will join Randy’s fleet.

The CNG-fueled Cummins engines in Randy’s trucks generate 95 percent fewer soot-producing particulate emissions. They also produce 94 percent fewer nitrogen oxide emissions and 68 percent fewer hydrocarbon emissions, both of

which contribute to smog.

Over the next three years, the company will spend nearly $9 million to build and operate its new CNG-powered fleet, including $7.6 million for 28 new CNGfueled refuse trucks.

“We’re making a substantial investment to replace the older trucks in our fleet with cleaner-burning CNG,” said Jim Wollschlager, director of company operations of Delano, Minn.-based Randy’s Environmental Services. “Our customers will appreciate how quiet these new trucks are. And that they help improve air quality in their neighborhoods. We believe it’s just the right thing to do.”

The move to cleaner, quieter CNG-powered trucks is the first of several industryleading environmental initiatives to be introduced by Randy’s.

Randy’s Environmental Services will put CNG-powered, side-loading refuse trucks into service on residential routes in the Twin Cities suburbs of Crystal, Delano, Excelsior, Long Lake, Loretto, Maple Grove, Medina, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, New Hope, Orono, Plymouth, St. Bonifacius, St. Louis Park, Victoria, Waconia and Wayzata. The residential trucks are being built by Bridgeport Truck Manufacturing of Bridgeport, Tex.

In addition, new CNG-fueled, front-loading commercial refuse trucks will service Randy’s commercial accounts in Minneapolis and western Twin Cities suburbs. McNeilus Companies of Dodge Center, Minn., is manufacturing the

commercial trucks for Randy’s Environmental Services.

A CNG refueling station designed to accommodate 80 trucks a day has been constructed at Randy’s Delano facility. Cost of the refueling station was $1.3 Million.

The station was developed with the assistance of Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, an electricity and natural gas company serving customers in eight Western and Midwest states.

“Our truck drivers will be able to back into a parking spot, plug into the CNG station and refuel overnight,” Wollschlager said.

The trucks will carry a CNG fuel capacity equivalent to 60 diesel gallons.