Notes on the fuel revolution

by Keith Barker

There is currently a monumental shift occurring in the Waste and recycling industry. In the 1980s, a change took place in industries that rely on the use of trucks and heavy machinery. As a fuel with enough energy, availability and cost-efficiency to power an industry, gasoline was on its way out, diesel was in. According to Mathew Campbell of Westport (www.westport.com), the Vancouver-based engineering firm behind some of the world’s most advanced natural gas engines and vehicles, the current switch in many sectors of heavy industry, including waste and recycling, from diesel to natural gas, isn’t so dissimilar.

“You can liken it to 30 years ago when everything was gasoline. Switching to diesel was a very big deal,” comments Campbell.  Campbell adds that the questions asked three decades ago were similar to those being asked today. Concerns about sustainable sources of diesel were raised, and many asked: ‘Why would I buy diesel, when I have gas that works great?’ Good question.

Change is enevitable however. In the case of natural gas vs diesel, currently the price difference in favour of the former (about 20-30 percent less at the pipeline) is too significant for industry to ignore, especially considering the robust, long-term, domestic supply of natural gas that is currently expected to last well into the next century. And the change is coming swiftly.

Players both large and small in waste management, specifically companies involved in collection and recovery, are now involved in transitioning large percentages of their truck fleets from diesel to natural gas. If they aren’t, they are considering the change. Waste Management is running over 2,000 natural gas powered collection vehicles in North America and recently announced the building of their 50th CNG fuelling station. Progressive Waste also stated recently that they are planning for over 50 percent of new vehicle purchases in 2014, in both the U.S. and Canada, to be CNG-fuelled vehicles. 

In our September, 2013 issue, our article; “On the Road to Natural Gas in the Waste & Recycling Industry”, features some great insight from Cummins Westport President, Jim Arthurs, on the origins, current status and future of natural gas fuel use in the refuse and recycling industry.

Also in our September 2013 issue, our story from Martin Todd of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, on end-of-life aircraft management, is indicative of the hard work and dedication coming from industry associations that take it upon themselves to ensure standards and best practices are kept current and relevant.

Associations like AFRA make sure recyclers and other professionals in the field, who provide the essential service of managing our world’s end-of-life products and materials, are supported. Certainly, it is good to know AFRA and its members are ready to manage the thousands of commercial, private and military airplanes that will take their last flight sometime during the next two decades.