Republic Services of Denver and the City of Louisville celebrated the launch of the all-electric recycling and waste collection truck fleet now operating in the city. With Louisville Mayor Chris Leh in the passenger seat, a Republic Services EV broke through a ribbon stretched across Main Street to mark the fleet鈥檚 launch.
鈥淎t Republic Services, our vision is to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world,鈥� said Mountain West Area President Bryant Thornton. 鈥淭hat includes our commitment to fleet electrification, which is reducing our own carbon footprint while supporting climate action in the communities we serve. We applaud the City of Louisville for being true leaders in sustainability.鈥�
Louisville made history this summer as the first city in the nation to adopt an electric collection fleet. Republic Services EVs began operating recycling, organics and waste collection routes in the city on Oct. 1.
The zero-emissions fleet serving Louisville includes three McNeilus Volterra ZSLs and a Peterbilt 520EV rear-loader for alley service. The McNeilus Volterra was developed with insights from Republic Services and is equipped with the latest safety technology. Key features include 360-degree cameras, an enlarged windshield for improved visibility, lane-departure sensors and automated braking.
Republic Services operates the largest electric collection fleet in North America. By the end of 2024, Republic expects to be operating more than 50 EVs, as research vehicles or in partnership with other forward-thinking municipalities, across the country. The company recently announced an order for 100 additional McNeilus Volterras for delivery in 2025. By 2028, Republic expects that half of its new truck purchases will be EVs.