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Thus, the potential annual costs for road maintenance potentially associated with garbage collection vehicles is conservatively estimated in the low hundreds of thousands for some cities. 2.5.5 Diesel and Gasoline Emissions Emissions of air pollutants from heavy-duty vehicles, particularly heavy-duty and high weight vehicles such as waste/recycling vehicles, have come under scrutiny in recent years. This attention is due to three main factors: The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) past emphasis on controlling emissions from passenger cars and light duty trucks has reduced the proportional contribution of these sources and illuminated the contribution of air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles. The public is increasingly concerned about the human health and environmental impacts of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and GHG which are emitted. Emission controls technologies have become reliable and cost effective in controlling emissions. However, heavy duty diesel fleets do not always have the most current emissions controls. Increased health risks, including asthma and heart disease in people have been correlated with exposure to diesel and gasoline engine emissions. The emissions can form ground level ozone (smog) and can contain hydro -carbons, Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Waste collection arrangements are directly related to fuel consumption and to emissions. Creating efficiencies in waste collection activities can reduce emissions. Opportunities for the reduction of emissions are occurring and include: Route changes to reduce inefficiency and idling; Replace obsolete engines and vehicles; and Retrofit existing fleet equipment to control emissions. Investigation into the potential reduction of emissions has not been completed for Minnesota's waste/recycling fleet due to the wide variety of collection arrangements, fleet type, engine age, variations fueling and fleet/engine emissions controls. The MPCA is now working with a large waste collection fleet owner to reduce emissions. There appears to be the potential for significant reductions in air emissions including GHGs for waste collection activities. Together with fleet modernization, efficient collection systems could contribute to reducing air pollution arising from waste/recycling fleet emissions. 2.5.6 Accidents/Safety Most accident and safety studies completed on waste and recycling collection have been based on the ergonomic aspects for collection employees. These studies have indicated that waste and recycling collection is an occupation with an above average injury rate. This is being addressed as the industry shifts to more automated collection to avoid much of the lifting and exposure to wastes. Studies regarding vehicle accidents involving waste and/or recycling collection vehicles R - Analysis of Waste Collection Service Arrangements.doc Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC • 41 June 2009