Transforming the global waste industry from dirty to clean fuels is no small feat, but Recology, a wholly employee-owned American company is doing its part to make this a reality with its hydrogen garbage truck. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the waste management company collects and processes municipal solid waste and reclaims reusable materials. Now, in the very city in which it is headquartered, Recology has begun testing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse collection truck.

Reducing waste with the help of clean energy.

Recology is the first waste and recycling company to pilot the hydrogen garbage truck in the United States, with San Francisco being the first city in North America to test the vehicle on city streets.

“San Francisco is once again leading the nation in testing new approaches and equipment,” said Recology CEO Salvatore M. Coniglio, in a recent news release announcing the test. The company’s leadership on composting and recycling has aided San Francisco in becoming “the greenest big city in the nation,” and now Recology is leading the way in sustainable operations, Coniglio added.

“Cutting-edge” American companies made the hydrogen garbage truck a reality.

The hydrogen garbage truck resulted from a partnership between two innovative US companies, New Way Trucks and Hyzon. New Way is a refuse truck body manufacturing specialist and Hyzon is a fuel cell manufacturer and technology developer.

Back in May, the two companies debuted the hydrogen-powered waste collection truck at Waste Expo in Las Vegas.

Coniglio said that when he saw the “incredible strides” that Hyzon and New Way were making to achieve a zero-emission future for the waste management industry, he knew that Recology had to bring this tech to San Francisco.

Rising up to the challenge.

The trial of this first-of-its-kind hydrogen garbage truck aims to prove that zero-emission vehicles are just as powerful as traditional diesel trucks, including having the required range to complete refuse collection routes as well as transport heavy loads.

After initial tests in San Francisco, the H2 garbage truck will be further tested by Recology in other Bay Area cities. Later in the year, New Way and Hyzon plan to run additional trials throughout California, with additional testing to follow in Canada.