Queen’s streets will soon be the beneficiary of New York City’s first hybrid garbage trucks.  Three new first-of-a-kind DSNY refuse collection trucks and one diesel-hybrid electric rack truck, which will utilize some of the most environmentally friendly technologies available, will began trash pick-ups next month.  The new trucks are said to get 20 to 30-percent better fuel economy and emit far less emissions than current all-diesel garbage trucks, which get an appallingly low 2 to 3 mpg.

Each of the hybrid trucks costs $500k, with the federal government picking up half the tab.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg presumes per truck costs will drop, if and when, they go into mass production. Testing will see if the greener trash trucks will survive the mean streets of New York.

source: nbc-2.com