(Madison, Wis.) — After almost 40 years in business, the folks at Pellitteri Waste Systems know a thing or two about hauling trash and recycling.
That is why they are investing in refuse trucks that can not only haul garbage to the dump but may one day also fill their tanks with gas created by the garbage itself.
If that sounds like a perpetual motion machine – and a very sweet deal – you’d be right.
Pellitteri has expanded its fleet of trucks to include four compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to take advantage of the abundant American-generated natural gas and the growing number of CNG stations – including those popping up at landfills around the country where the gas given off from trash is converted into truck fuel. The Dane County landfill has just such an operation now used solely for county vehicles.
Tim Pellitteri, the owner of the company, said the move is great for the environment – and ultimately makes good business sense.
“Being a good environmental steward is woven into our DNA at Pellitteri,” he said. “We see CNG trucks as a strategic decision to take care of our planet.”
Pellitteri bought their first CNG refuse truck about a year ago and its success encouraged them to add more – even though they cost more than regular refuse trucks. Big motivators were the environmentally friendly lower exhaust emissions and quieter running engines.
Pellitteri’s decision also supports Wisconsin’s economy because he bought the trucks from a Wisconsin business– Bruce Municipal Equipment, in Menomonee Falls.
“This is just part of our investment to help lead the way in recycling and other cost-effective waste recovery systems and solutions,” said Pellitteri. “We like to lead by our own company’s example.”
