Unfortunately one of the most consistent and unavoidable aspects of recycling is the cost. Layers of infrastructure ranging from collection to sorting and recycling need to be navigated and transport costs emerge during every step of the process.

Transporting recyclables can be particularly prohibitive and it often requires the use of diesel trucks that are obviously terrible for the environment. Until battery-powered freighters and trucks become accessible are there any alternative fuels that might mitigate some of the environmental and economic costs of shipping?

In the past few years, one fuel in particular has been catching the eyes of many businesses and firms, both large and small: natural gas. As far as alternative fuels go, burning natural gas generates fewer carbon emissions, costs anywhere between 25 and 50% less than diesel and limits dependence petrol or diesel.

In the United States TerraCycle has made a decision to partner with Progressive Waste Solutions, one of North America’s largest waste management companies, and one that is starting to shift away from diesel and towards compressed natural gas. Since May 2013 Progressive Waste has added 300 compressed natural gas-fuel trucks to its collection fleet. This partnership means that the companies are able to integrate TerraCycle recycling programs into existing curb side collections in a way that circumvents many of the conventional environmental and economic costs of diesel-fuel transportation.