In Long Beach, Trash Trucks Will Pick Up Garbage Without Polluting Our Air

Maybe you’ve witnessed it firsthand—kids in your neighborhood rushing out of their homes to greet the trash truck rumbling down the block to pick up compost, recycling, and landfill-bound waste. You wouldn’t be alone in wondering, “Why the obsession with dirty trash trucks?” But it’s true—kids love trash trucks!  

Trash day is an event for many households. When my son was a toddler, I remember welcoming the “trash truck parade” each week, which broke up the monotony of our morning routine. It was something he looked forward to, and I also enjoyed stepping outside for a moment to see him wave to the truck driver, beaming with joy when he got a thumbs-up in response.  

But along with the giddy laughter, the noise, and the spectacle of a giant mechanical arm-claw dumping our bins into the truck bed, these diesel burning trucks also brought silent and invisible toxic air pollution to our neighborhood.  

That’s why I was thrilled when last year the City of Long Beach committed to transitioning 100% of its municipal fleet to zero-emission trash trucks. Last month, local leaders unveiled the first new models of non-polluting, fully electric trash trucks designed for both narrow city alleys and larger pickup routes, and these trucks are hitting city streets today. It’s a milestone even Oscar the Grouch could celebrate.   

A new City of Long Beach EV garbage truck at a press conference unveiling the trucks in Long Beach, California (Stella Kalinina for Earthjustice)

It has been well documented that the pollution from burning fossil fuels, including the methane gas that powers most garbage trucks, is linked to a host of widespread health problems—including higher rates of asthma in children, lung disease among elders, and even early death. Nowhere is this issue more pressing than the South Coast Air Basin in Southern California, which is one of the most polluted areas of the country.   

For California, and the South Coast in particular, this transition isn’t optional; it’s essential. Meeting the state’s climate targets and cleaning up some of the worst air in the nation will require a concerted shift to zero-emission technologies. Long Beach is showing the way forward.  

Electrifying these fleets is not just about health and clean air. It also makes economic sense. 

Electric refuse trucks are cheaper to operate than their diesel and gas-powered counterparts, with lower maintenance costs and lower fuel costs. For cities that are managing tight budgets and now reeling from diesel price spikes, going electric means taxpayer dollars will stretch further while delivering cleaner air. 

Earthjustice attorney Fernando Gaytan poses with a new City of Long Beach EV garbage truck in Long Beach, California (Stella Kalinina for Earthjustice)

The Mayor is sending a clear message to other cities: this is no longer a pilot. These technologies exist today, and they’re rolling out on our streets. The question isn’t whether cities can electrify. It’s how long they are willing to wait before they get left behind. Long Beach is now on its way to lead the region, setting the city up for success as it prepares to co-host major global sporting events, including the Olympics. 

Residents will undoubtedly still take part in the ritual of watching the trash truck parade with their neighborhood kids. But in the very near future, they’ll get to watch smoother and quieter trucks that don’t leave behind a trail of harmful air pollution in their wake. That’s something to be proud of. The technology is here. The benefits are real. The path forward is clear. The future is electric! 

Coalition members at a City of Long Beach conference unveiling its new EV garbage trucks in Long Beach, California (Stella Kalinina for Earthjustice)