Commerce City, Republic & Xcel launch all-electric waste fleet
Published on January 13, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commerce City, Republic Services, and Xcel Energy
launch fully electric recycling and waste collection fleet
Commerce City, COLO. (Jan. 13, 2026) – Commerce City officials stood alongside partners from Republic Services and Xcel Energy for a ribbon-cutting event this morning at the Commerce City Civic Center to officially launch a fully electric recycling and waste collection fleet in the city. The event marks a major milestone in the city’s commitment to clean energy and sustainable operations.
“Commerce City continues to lead by example when it comes to sustainability,” said Mayor Steve Douglas. “Being the first city in Adams County and the largest city in Colorado to adopt a fully electric collection fleet reflects our commitment to protecting public health while delivering essential services more efficiently, and putting our Sustainability Action Plan into practice.”
By the end of 2026, we anticipate operating 19 EV trucks in Commerce City and more than 300 across the country, helping our communities achieve their climate action goals. The new electric collection fleet is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational noise, and contribute to cleaner air, helping advance Commerce City’s long-term Sustainability Action Plan. The city provides residential trash and recycling service to all single-family homes and duplexes within the city boundary at no additional cost.
“Republic Services and Commerce City share a strong commitment to sustainability,” said Mark Petrovich, Republic Services area senior manager for municipal sales. “Through our strong partnership and support from Xcel Energy, we have accelerated sustainability through innovation. These state-of-the-art electric recycling and waste collection trucks are EPA-certified for zero emissions, quieter during collection and will help ensure a more sustainable future for Commerce City.”
The fleet consists exclusively of McNeilus Volterra EVs, the industry’s first fully integrated electric recycling and waste collection trucks. Developed with insights from Republic Services, these trucks prioritize safety and produce zero tailpipe emissions. Key safety features include 360-degree cameras, an enlarged windshield for improved visibility, lane-departure sensors, automated braking and audible devices that alert nearby drivers and pedestrians to compensate for their quieter operations.
The EV fleet rollout is made possible through recent investments in EV infrastructure, including advanced charging stations at Republic Services’ Commerce City facility, which provide the capacity needed to roll out a large number of electric vehicles simultaneously. Republic Services partnered with Xcel Energy on the rollout and received rebates and infrastructure support to help enable efficient charging of its fleet.
“Xcel Energy is proud to support Republic Services in its transition to electric vehicles,” said Robert Kenney, president, Xcel Energy – Colorado. “This project was the largest within our Clean Transportation EVSI program, which provides a turnkey solution for customers, covering every step from conception to completion. It also aligns with our company goal to reduce emissions across our system. We value the partnership we have with Commerce City and Republic Services and look forward to helping all Colorado communities reach their energy and sustainability goals.”
Republic Services has the industry’s largest commitment to fleet electrification and operates North America’s largest electric recycling and waste collection fleet, with more than 150 EVs on the road today.
###
PHOTO: Representatives from Commerce City, Republic Services, and Xcel Energy gather to celebrate the launch of fully EV waste and recycling collection in Commerce City.
*NOTE: B-roll video of the new EV Republic Services trucks in operation on Commerce City streets is available by request.
ABOUT COMMERCE CITY
As one of Colorado’s fastest growing cities, Commerce City is redefining itself for the next generation, building on historic values of community, industry, agriculture, and family. Centrally located along Colorado’s bustling Front Range, Commerce City is a Quality Community for a Lifetime, with 25 miles of trails, a championship golf course, 840 acres of open space and parks, one of the country’s largest soccer complexes and the nation’s largest urban wildlife refuge. Learn more at c3gov.com.
ABOUT REPUBLIC SERVICES
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Republic’s industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world. For more information, please visit RepublicServices.com.
ABOUT XCEL ENERGY
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider, dedicated to serving millions of customers with excellence. We make energy work better for customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar — delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient and sustainable energy.
We are committed to leading the clean energy transition, meeting our customers’ need for more cleaner power, while keeping bills as low as possible. Because the people we serve depend on us to power their lives.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, we work every day to generate and distribute electricity and gas to customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com.
Contact: Travis Huntington
Phone: 303-478-3734
Email: THuntington@c3gov.com