Mack Trucks announced the successful delivery of its first electric refuse vehicle as part of 鈥淭he Bronx Is Breathing: Reimagining a Cleaner Hunts Point鈥� project. The delivery to Royal Waste Services, Inc., a Waste Connections subsidiary, marks a significant milestone in bringing clean transportation solutions to one of New York’s most underserved communities. The delivery of the Mack庐 LR Electric refuse truck represents progress toward commitments made under a $10 million award from the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in partnership with the NYS Department of Public Service (DPS) and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The electric refuse truck deployment coincides with the New York City Economic Development Corporation鈥檚 (NYCEDC) announcement of MN8 Energy鈥檚 selection to build the city鈥檚 first community-driven, freight-focused electric vehicle charging depot in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center. Additionally, the Fulton Fish Market Co-Op, the largest fish market in the U.S., will receive four medium-duty Mack庐 MD model electric vehicles to aid in zero tailpipe-emissions logistics. This comprehensive approach supports both environmental and economic goals in Hunts Point, home to nearly 13,000 residents in the southern tier of the poorest urban congressional district in the United States.
鈥淭his delivery represents more than just a new vehicle,鈥� said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tangible step toward advancing sustainable transportation and demonstrates how the transportation industry can support community environmental goals. The Mack LR Electric offers zero-emission operation while providing Royal Waste Services with a reliable solution for its operations.鈥�
The Bronx Is Breathing initiative was designed to tackle the dual challenges facing Hunts Point: environmental inequity from heavy truck traffic serving the nation鈥檚 largest wholesale food hub and nine waste transfer facilities, along with economic insecurity affecting local residents. By electrifying local truck fleets, the project offers the most direct approach to comprehensively addressing freight transportation emissions in the area while creating opportunities for community economic participation.
The vehicle will use charging infrastructure at the planned MN8 Energy charging depot, which will include 32 Direct Charging Fast Chargers and 10 Level-2 chargers on a 3.2-acre brownfield site. The facility will support both Medium-Duty (MD), Heavy-Duty (HD) and Light-Duty (LD) electric vehicles, creating an ecosystem for zero-tailpipe emissions freight operations in Hunts Point.
鈥淚ntegrating this zero-emission Mack LR Electric into our fleet demonstrates that electric refuse collection can be both operationally effective and environmentally responsible,” said Michael Angelo Reali, district manager for Royal Waste Services. 鈥淭his partnership with Mack Trucks and the broader Bronx Is Breathing initiative allows us to serve the Hunts Point community while reducing our environmental footprint and supporting the transition to cleaner transportation solutions.鈥�
The delivery supports Mack鈥檚 goal to reduce CO鈧� emissions per vehicle kilometer by 40 percent by 2030 and aligns with New York State鈥檚 goal of an 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
鈥淲e are honored to advance our commitment to the Hunts Point community and demonstrate that sustainable transportation solutions can drive both environmental and economic benefits,鈥� Randall said. 鈥淭his collaboration exemplifies how industry can work alongside local communities to create a more sustainable future.鈥�