Jan 25, 2002 9:17 am US/Eastern

Pacific Waste Services Enhances Fleet to Save Environment

Danielle Jackson

San Diego -- Pacific Waste Services has announced that it will use biodiesel and San Diego-based Ethos Environmental Inc.'s fuel reformulator (FR) as a new alternative fuel source. The decision was based on results of a two-month pilot study in which the alternative fuel reduced emissions by 46 percent for Pacific Waste's Chula Vista division fleet.

Sixty-two solid waste hauling vehicles, including those for trash, yard waste, recycling and container transport, now run on the new fuel, which may help reduce more than 500 tons of pollution annually. The program, B20-Ethos, consists of using B20, a mixture of 20 percent of Chelsea, Mass.-based World Energy's Envirodiesel, 80 percent standard diesel, and Ethos FR, an ester formula that works with any fuel to reduce emissions.

Biodiesel and Ethos FR are biodegradable and non-toxic. The blend of esters in Ethos FR cleans and lubricates the internal parts of the engine without the need for petroleum-derived solvents commonly found in fuel additives.

With the program, Pacific Waste Services has achieved a 100 percent fleet conversion to the alternative fuel in the Chula Vista division and has introduced B20 to all of its diesel engine vehicles without modifications or retrofitting. Total cost is estimated at $50,000 per year in fuel, but according to the company, fuel economy savings will recover the added cost.

The company plans to implement the B20-Ethos program in the San Diego division by the end of November 2002.