DC Public Works Taps Into Biodiesel's Sustainability Benefits
When Washington D.C. issued a 2050 goal of 80% greenhouse gas reduction, fleet managers at the D.C. Department of Public Works knew they would need to address one of the biggest challenges towards sustainability - diesel guzzling garbage trucks.
“DPW’s diesel refuse trucks cause the highest amount of emissions per vehicle in the entire District fleet,” explains DPW Director Chris Geldart. “We needed a solution that would maximize emissions reductions while minimizing any effect on our budget and operations.
The DPW found that solution in biodiesel, 100% pure biodiesel to be exact. The department has enabled a large portion of its fleet to run on B100 biodiesel, a switch that was enabled by installing a fuel system manufactured by Optimus Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based NBB member.
Using B100 reduces up to 86% of the trucks’ greenhouse gas emissions, which means the Department has exceeded their 2050 goals today. Officials calculated that using biodiesel has prevented more than 1,600 tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere in 2019 alone. They also note that these environmental benefits are being achieved with no impact to vehicle performance, operation, or maintenance.
“At the Department of Public Works, we are committed to operating our fleet in a sustainable manner without compromising performance, says DPW’s Associate Administrator Ryan Frasier. “The transition to using B100 has been seamless, even with the cold weather usage of biodiesel over the past two winters.”
The success of the alternative fuel has led the DPW to fully commit to sustainable biodiesel. The Department recently mandated that all future heavy-duty trucks will be B100 capable, and intends to have close to 100 trucks upgraded with the Optimus fuel system within the next year.
To learn more about DPW visit: https://dpw.dc.gov/