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Oscar the Grouch Just Rolled Into NYC on an Electric Garbage Truck and People Are Losing It

July 1, 2025

New York’s first electric garbage truck just hit the streets with Oscar the Grouch riding shotgun. Yes, that Oscar.
This electric waste truck converts braking into battery power, helping cut emissions while rolling through crowded NYC blocks.
Action Carting’s electric garbage truck is part of a push that could slash citywide waste emissions by 50 percent.

What happens when Oscar the Grouch trades his trash can for an electric garbage truck? On July 1st he rolled through the Bronx in a Mack LR Electric, a fully electric collection truck designed for city streets.

The vehicle moved quietly through the dense traffic of New York City, producing no tailpipe emissions and turning heads with Oscar’s unmistakable face painted on the side. This unexpected sight caught my attention, and probably yours too. And this vehicle launch is only the beginning of something much larger.

Action Carting Environmental Services, a division of Interstate Waste Services, has introduced its first fully electric garbage truck in New York City as part of the city’s new Commercial Waste Zone program.

This program is expected to reduce truck traffic and citywide emissions by 50 percent once it is fully implemented. To support this effort, Action Carting has teamed up with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, to encourage recycling within local communities.

Jennifer Ahearn of Sesame Workshop stated, “There’s no character who appreciates collecting trash more than Oscar the Grouch.”

What makes the Mack LR Electric unique is its use of regenerative braking. This technology captures energy each time the truck stops and starts, then sends that energy back into the battery. As a result, the vehicle not only extends its driving range but also reduces brake wear over time, according to specifications provided by Mack.

_{Mack LR Electric garbage truck for NYC’s Department of Sanitation, highlighting clean air efforts with fully electric waste collection.}

Residents benefit from this design with quieter streets, improved air quality, added safety features, and minimal engine noise. Mike DiBella, CEO of Interstate Waste Services, stated, “This is just the beginning of our transition to electric. With this investment, we’re improving our operations while making a positive difference for our community and environment.”

Several other waste collection companies are adopting electric vehicles as well. Waste Connections of New York has introduced a Peterbilt Model 520EV, along with a few electric Ford F‑150 pickup trucks. These vehicles are powered by charging stations connected to solar panels.

Republic Services, which operates a fleet of over 17,000 trucks across the country, has been adding electric garbage trucks to its operations since 2023. Oshkosh Corporation, which is recognized for its work on electric delivery trucks for the U.S. Postal Service, unveiled the McNeilus Volterra ZFL at CES 2025. This fully electric refuse truck features robotic bin-handling and built-in AI sensors to support more efficient waste collection.

The benefits are clear and measurable. According to Ampcontrol, electric refuse trucks reduce noise by nearly 50 percent, which can make a noticeable difference in densely populated neighborhoods. These vehicles also require less maintenance because they contain fewer moving parts and do not rely on oil changes, which helps cut downtime and service costs.

Additionally, they deliver instant torque, allowing them to handle steep city streets with ease. To address concerns from pedestrians about how quiet these trucks are, some cities have started adding artificial noise systems so people can still hear them approaching.

This electric Mack truck in the Bronx is tangible progress. Josh Haraf of Interstate said the effort brings safer, cleaner, more efficient waste collection while inspiring New Yorkers of all ages to recycle.

In context, NYC’s Department of Sanitation has been testing electric Mack LR trucks since 2020, planning up to 2,000 e‑vehicles in service by 2025. And Miami‑Dade’s Danny Diaz praised regenerative braking technology, noting trucks “will be powered by the garbage it collects.”. That’s poetic.

New York City has committed to reaching zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Electric garbage trucks play a direct role in reducing carbon output and cutting down on noise, which benefits public health, improves air quality, and creates a quieter urban environment.

Featuring Sesame Street characters, especially Oscar the Grouch, adds a playful and relatable element that helps educate children and families about sustainability. Action Carting’s electric vehicle launch reflects how private companies can contribute to cleaner, more responsible city living.