SWC Credit 3: Alternative Fueled Solid Waste Collection Vehicles (1-2 points)

Reciprocal

Intent:

Reduce atmospheric emissions associated with collection and transportation of solid waste and promote renewable and low-carbon intensity alternatives to non-renewable transportation fuels.

Local Government and Industry Requirements:

Demonstrate, on a percentage basis, the use of renewable or low-emission fuels in the solid waste collection vehicles. The percentage of alternative fuel use can be determined on the basis of either the fraction of the vehicle fleet or the fraction of annual miles traveled.

Tier 1: (1 point)

Percentage of Alternative Fueled^[1] collection vehicles:    

●      30 percent or more use of Renewable fuels in collection vehicles or 30% of total fuel consumption for collection.

●      60 percent or more from Alternative/Low-Carbon Intensity fuels in collection vehicles or 60% of total fuel consumption for collection.  

Tier 2: (1 point)

Percentage of Alternative Fueled for collection vehicles:    

●      50 percent or more use of Renewable fuels in collection vehicles or 50% of total fuel consumption for collection.

●      95 percent or more from Alternative/Low-Carbon Intensity fuels in collection vehicles or 95% of total fuel consumption for collection.

Potential Strategies

●      Electric collection vehicles

●      Utilize landfill methane

●      Utilize natural gas

●      Utilize Digester methane

●      Diesel Hybrid collection vehicles

Liquid fuels derived from solid waste    

[1] Please see the Compliance Manual for full definitions. 

●       Renewable fuels are defined by the US EPA as “Biomass-based diesel [that] meet[s] a 50% lifecycle GHG reduction; Cellulosic biofuel [that is] produced from cellulose, hemicellulose, or lignin and…meet[s] a 60% lifecycle GHG reduction; Advanced biofuel [are] produced from qualifying renewable biomass (except corn starch) and…meet a 50% GHG reduction.” https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/overview-renewable-fuel-standard 

              ●  “Low Carbon Intensity” fuels include landfill methane and corn-based ethanol. Methane from landfill facilities operated as “bioreactors” do not qualify for this credit.

●      “Alternative fuels include gaseous fuels such as hydrogen, natural gas, and propane; alcohols such as ethanol, methanol, and butanol; vegetable and waste-derived oils; and electricity. These fuels may be used in a dedicated system that burns a single fuel, or in a mixed system with other fuels including traditional gasoline or diesel, such as in hybrid-electric or flexible fuel vehicles.” https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard-program/alternative-fuels.

●       Liquid fuels derived from plastics that could otherwise be recovered for recycling do not count toward this credit.