Mack Trucks Deploys Electric Refuse Truck in the Bronx, Advancing Zero-Emissions Waste Collection
August 2025 – Bronx, NY
Mack Trucks has rolled out a fully electric refuse truck in the Bronx, marking a significant milestone in New York City’s clean transportation push. The Mack® LR Electric, delivered to Filco Carting Corp., will serve the Hunts Point neighborhood, one of NYC’s busiest waste collection routes.
This isn’t just a vehicle delivery—it’s a strategic deployment. Hunts Point, located in the South Bronx, faces some of the highest rates of air pollution and asthma in the city. Therefore, replacing diesel trucks with zero-emission models directly supports environmental justice. As the LR Electric begins its daily route, it will cut harmful pollutants and noise from one of the most heavily trafficked waste corridors in the five boroughs.
At the same time, the truck will demonstrate how electric power can handle demanding urban sanitation duties. With high torque, regenerative braking, and near-silent operation, it’s built for stop-and-go routes like those in the Bronx. As a result, this rollout will help validate electric refuse vehicles for larger municipal fleets. It also builds trust with residents who want cleaner, quieter streets—and action, not just plans.
A New Era for NYC Waste Management
This battery-electric truck isn’t just about cutting tailpipe emissions—it represents a major step toward cleaner, quieter city streets.
Filco Carting Corp., a family-run company serving the city since 1910, became the first waste hauler in NYC to deploy the Mack LR Electric for daily operations.
“We’ve always looked for ways to modernize our fleet,” said Domenic Monopoli, CEO of Filco Carting. “The LR Electric allows us to do that responsibly—reducing emissions while still meeting the high demands of New York City’s waste collection needs.”
Cleaner Power for a Healthier Bronx
The Mack LR Electric features twin electric motors delivering a combined 448 continuous horsepower. Four NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) lithium-ion batteries power the vehicle, also paired with a regenerative braking system that recovers energy during stops.
Filco’s new truck will primarily operate in Hunts Point, a neighborhood long plagued by air pollution due to heavy diesel traffic. By replacing one diesel truck with an electric model, Filco helps reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and particulate matter.
Mack Electric Trucks: Supporting Green Infrastructure
To support the truck, Filco installed charging infrastructure at its headquarters in Brooklyn. Mack and its dealer Gabrielli Truck Sales provided technical assistance throughout the process.
To support the new electric truck, Filco Carting Corp. installed dedicated charging infrastructure at its Brooklyn headquarters. This investment marks more than just a logistical upgrade. It represents a long-term commitment to electrification and operational sustainability. Because charging heavy-duty trucks requires high-voltage systems, the installation included both hardware and grid upgrades to meet daily power demands. At the same time, Filco optimized its facility layout to streamline vehicle charging and overnight storage, ensuring maximum uptime and route readiness.
Throughout the process, Mack Trucks and Gabrielli Truck Sales played a critical role. They didn’t just deliver the truck—they partnered with Filco to provide hands-on technical support, site assessments, and power planning. As a result, the transition went smoothly despite the complex requirements of charging commercial vehicles. Their collaboration underscores how vital manufacturer-dealer partnerships are in scaling electric fleets. Without this level of coordination, many private haulers might delay adoption. Instead, Filco has become a model for other urban fleets looking to electrify.
“Waste collection is an ideal application for electric trucks,” said Jonathan Randall, President of Mack Trucks North America. “These vehicles operate on predictable routes, return to base nightly, and idle frequently—making electric power more efficient and cleaner.”
New York City’s Bigger Push for Mack Electric Trucks in Fleets
The deployment aligns with New York City’s broader climate goals. Under its Clean Fleet Plan, the city has committed to electrifying the entire municipal fleet—including sanitation trucks—by 2040. The Mack LR Electric adds critical momentum.
More importantly, Filco’s move also underscores the private sector’s role in climate leadership. By investing in electric refuse trucks, independent haulers are showing that clean transportation isn’t just for city agencies—it’s for everyone.
Conclusion
The deployment of the Mack LR Electric isn’t just a one-off upgrade. It marks a pivotal step in New York City’s broader push to transform how it manages its streets, air quality, and climate responsibilities. As one of the largest sanitation fleets in the world, New York has the scale—and the visibility—to lead by example. By electrifying refuse trucks, the city directly addresses emissions from one of its most polluting vehicle classes.
At the heart of this shift is the Clean Fleet Plan. New York City has committed to fully electrify its municipal vehicle fleet by 2040. That includes thousands of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks. With each deployment like the Mack LR Electric, the city adds momentum to that goal. But more importantly, it proves that heavy-duty electrification is practical, scalable, and ready now.
These new trucks do more than reduce tailpipe emissions. They cut noise pollution, improve air quality in frontline communities, and lower maintenance costs. They also send a message to other major cities: zero-emission sanitation is possible—and necessary. Because of these combined benefits, the rollout aligns perfectly with state climate laws like New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Yet beyond compliance, this is also about public trust. Residents most certainly want to see real climate action and not just policy promises. Deploying electric sanitation trucks turns those promises into reality. It creates cleaner air, quieter mornings, and a new standard for urban operations.
So the Mack LR Electric isn’t just a vehicle. That’s because it’s also a significant milestone. And it signals what soon the future of clean cities can—and should—look like.
