Electric trucks and biofuel: Veolia reduces pollution and noise from waste collection rounds

Until then, it was still a paradox: waste collection, supposed to be “clean”, generated pollution. Well yes, the trucks that collect household waste and the selective sorting bins, powered by diesel, necessarily emit their share of particles and other greenhouse gases. But that was before. Because since April 2023, Veolia has chosen to modify its collection trucks so that they run on HVO biofuel, resulting from the recycling of used cooking oils, which makes it possible to significantly reduce the carbon footprint. Another advance, due to the policy of Symat, which has chosen selective collection thanks to the sorting of the same name, and which makes it possible to reduce the number of rounds. “This is how, in terms of environmental impact, we have reduced the kilometers traveled by 43% compared to 2018, which stabilized at 563,906 km, for 338,344 liters of fuel, reducing by the same amount the energy bill. But, even if it is “clean” fuel, there is a way to go further in terms of polluting emissions, by switching to electric traction.

Quieter

A relevant choice on this register. But also that of sound emissions. “We have local residents who complain about the noise of the trucks during very early morning rounds,” agrees Rémi Carmouze, the president of Symat, “these electric trucks are very quiet.” Almost too much, at the limit, as a result, they are equipped with sensors in every corner, and sound warnings in case of danger… But the gain in terms of noise is incomparable, even if, ultimately, it is the noise containers that are rolled which is the most annoying… For the moment, the fleet is equipped with two of these battery-powered trucks, one will be assigned to Tarbes, the other to Lourdes. And why not more? The cost… “Compared to a conventional truck with a thermal engine, the purchase price is double”, agrees Sophie Delage, regional director of Veolia Sud-Ouest, who emphasizes that these two “clean” trucks are the first to be implemented in service in Occitania. “Of course, it has a cost,” acknowledged Gérard Trémège, “but it is proof of Veolia’s commitment to environmental impact and we are grateful for it.” A commitment which is not only “moral”, but financial, an electric truck for collecting household waste costs €500,000. This is the price of cleanliness and silence…