Trash trucks going green

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Heavy duty trucks and busses will soon be getting a major makeover.

They will run cleaner and be more fuel efficient by the end of the decade.

The air we breathe will be getting even cleaner over the coming years. 

Federal requirements have already cleaned up light duty trucks and cars, but the government has a new target.

"It's the first time that the EPA has addressed the fuel efficiency of the heavy duty vehicles," says Frank Stevenson from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Those heavy duty vehicles like garbage and delivery trucks and buses will be required to reduce fuel consumption and green house gas emissions by 10% by the model year 2018.

"Not only will the pollution being emitted reduce per mile being traveled, but the cost of operating the vehicle will be reduced by the same amount," Stevenson says.

It is estimated that the new regulations will save $50 billion in fuel costs and 500,000,000 barrels of oil.

The biggest problem with diesel fuel is the emission of diesel polluting particles.

"Which have known health effects as well as the pollution that have the ozone problems we have in the summer," says Stevenson.

Tractor trailers used for hauling trash and recycling over long distances must get to a 20% decrease in fuel consumption and heavy duty pick up trucks and vans will need to see a drop of 15%.

It will certainly add to the cost of the vehicle, but again, in the long term the savings in fuel by far will outweigh the extra cost in the vehicle.