Return-It announced the expansion of its CNG-electric hybrid compaction truck fleet in its celebration of Canada’s Circular Economy Month. The company has added three vehicles to its dedicated transportation network – a move that drives the organization closer to the goal of decarbonizing various areas of operations. The new trucks will lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from beverage container transportation by up to 25% while at the same time reducing the number of vehicles on the road.
In September 2020, in a significant step towards creating a greener beverage container recycling system in British Columbia, Return-It and its partners launched Canada’s first-of-its-kind pilot program for specialized CNG-electric hybrid compaction trucks. Since that first truck hit the road, about 150 million plastic bottles have been compacted as of September 2022. With the success of the pilot program, Return-It is making the program permanent, and expanding the fleet to four CNG-electric hybrid trucks and three compaction trailers.
“As the province’s leading product stewardship organization, we are committed to making a positive contribution to efforts mitigating our impact on the environment, including GHG emission reductions,” commented President and CEO Cindy Coutts. “The success of our pilot program proved our investment in new technology was returning significant economic and environmental results. We have saved 69 metric tons of GHG emissions, per CNG-electric hybrid vehicle on an annual basis through the use of a cleaner alternative fuel.”
FortisBC, a leading energy utility in the province, is providing the CNG fuel. FortisBC works with large commercial fleet customers, government and municipalities to advance natural gas as a lower-carbon fuel that addresses the heavy duty needs of commercial transportation operations. “We are pleased to provide lower-carbon fuel and fueling infrastructure so that Return-It can expand its CNG fleet,” said Sarah Smith, Director, Low Carbon Transportation and LNG Business Growth for FortisBC. “We appreciate working with a company that shares our commitment to decarbonization through the use of innovative technology to support lower-carbon and cost-effective fuels.”
“Transportation contributes to 40% of British Columbia’s overall GHG emissions and it is our goal province-wide to reduce these emissions by 40% by 2030,” explained Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We are excited to see organizations like Return-It adopting new low-carbon technologies in CNG-electric hybrid vehicles for their heavy-duty fleets. We need to work collectively towards transitioning towards zero-emission vehicles.”
Supplied by Hyliion, the CNG-electric hybrid powertrains not only release fewer emissions than existing diesel trucks, but combined with new and powerful compaction technology, they help reduce the number of vehicle trips required to take beverage containers from recycling depots to processing facilities. Adding the three CNG-electric hybrid compaction trucks reduces the number of kilometers travelled by 84,000 annually.
“Hyliion’s vision of a global net-carbon-negative commercial transportation industry can only become a reality when it’s strengthened by programs like Return-It that work to accelerate decarbonization through alternative fuels and innovative technology. I look forward to seeing Return-It further reduce its carbon footprint as it incorporates additional hybrid powertrains into its fleet,” added Thomas Healy, Hyliion Founder and CEO.
Source: Encorp Pacific (Canada)
