The city of Des Moines is the first in the country to use new “hybrid” hydraulic launch assisted waste disposal trucks and Mayor Dave Kaplan welcomed them with a ribbon cutting ceremony April 24 at City Hall.

Four –year-old Aiden, a Des Moines resident, helped Mayor Kaplan cut the ribbon.

“These trucks will make our air a lot cleaner by lessening pollution,” Deborah, Aiden’s mother said. She is happy to know that her next child will be born in cleaner air.

Des Moines residents started seeing the green CleanScapes garbage trucks last November when they started providing collection service to the community. Part of the contract with the city included using “hybrid” trucks, a requirement they were able to deliver earlier than expected.

The new trucks, also called an HLA truck, store energy when stopping to be used later at takeoff or acceleration. This technology reduces fuel usage by 30 percent and also reduces emission into the air. It also uses compressed natural gas (CNG), a much cleaner burning fuel.

The HLA trucks also have a specialized rear axle, known as a 60/40. This axle reduces road wear and tear and also reduces the amount of tire rubber left on the streets that often finds its way to waterways.

“This is a really cool truck,” Mayor Kaplan said. He hopes other cities will follow.

Besides the use of these trucks, CleanScapes would also like to raise awareness about recycling and food waste disposal. Their goal is to raise the rate of residential recycling to 55 percent in King County. In 2011,Des Moines’ rate was 28 percent.

CleanScapes will be partnering with King County Solid Waste in the coming months to increase residential recycling in the area. The “Recycle More, It’s Easy to Do,” campaign has been in effect since 2006 and will begin a focus in Des Moines this year.

“Fifth percent of what is in the Cedar Hills landfill is recyclable,” said Gerty Coville, project manager for at King County Solid Waste.

Residents can receive a free countertop food scrap pails for easy recycling of compostable garbage at events such as the Waterfront Farmer’s Market.

“All materials have value, either re-used, recycled or composted,” Coville said. “If you recycle more you need a smaller garbage container, saving money also,” she added.

Unfortunately food waste and compostable recyclables cannot be picked up from multi-family complexes.

“Our landscape service takes it away,” said Kaplan. His condominium does not have food scrap pick up.

“It’s coming, but it’s not here yet,” Coville said. “Multi-family, apartment, condo recycling is a tough nut to crack,“ she said.

Seattle has been able to accomplish providing these services and she hopes to offer it in Des Moines soon.