Choice Environmental Services, a private waste hauler in south Florida, has deployed a new fleet of 10 compressed natural gas refuse trucks, which are expected to cut emissions by 25 percent compared to diesel-fueled trucks.

With an Autocar chassis and Hercules ASL bodies supplied by E-Z Pack Manufacturing, the trucks are run on Cummins Westbrook engines, designed for natural gas. The trucks are also fully automated with high compaction bodies that will reduce the number of trips they'll need to make to the landfill.

The refuse bodies themselves are mounted with four natural gas fuel cells - two that are "saddle mounted" on the chassis frame and two additional fuel cells that are integrated into the body above and behind the hopper. After Choice Environmental requested greater fuel capacity, E-Z Pack added fuel cells to the ASL body.

With a total CNG fuel capacity equivalent to 60 gallons of diesel, the trucks are refueled at the company's Pompano Beach CNG fueling station, designed, built and operated by Clean Energy Fuels of California.

Choice Environmental hosted an open house on Oct. 29 to launch its new CNG operation in south Florida.

"We are excited and proud to be the first commercial waste company in Florida to deploy clean, quiet CNG-powered collection vehicles," said Glen Miller, Choice's CEO. "Choice is committed to doing our part to reduce America's dependence on imported oil, and to helping ensure a clean air environment for the communities we serve."

"Refuse companies throughout the country are adopting natural gas fuel for both environmental and economic reasons, and we congratulate Choice for leading the way in Florida," said Mark Riley, Clean Energy's Eastern U.S. general manager.