OC Waste & Recycling is taking steps to help keep our air cleaner and save some money.

The department that manages Orange County's three landfills introduced a tractor at the Olinda Landfill in Brea last week that is partially powered by electricity.

County Supervisor Bill Campbell commandeered the non-traditional ribbon cutting ceremony by driving the Cat D7E Track-Type Tractor through a wide-stretching banner.

"One of the big pollution sources in Southern California is tractors," said Campbell, who is also a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District board. "This is more fuel efficient and less polluting."

The Cat D7E combines an electric drive system with diesel engine, resulting in up to 30 percent better fuel economy and longer life span than comparable tractors that run on fuel alone, said officials from Caterpillar, which builds the D7E.

The tractor also has fewer moving parts and a smaller engine, resulting in lower maintenance costs.

The D7E, which will be used on a test basis for now, is among 10 tractors in the fleet at the landfill and will be used daily to cover waste as required by law, county officials said.

OC Waste & Recycling typically uses a tractor for about 10 years before it needs to be replaced, but the D7E could be in use for up to 15 years.

"Through attrition, as machines get older, we have a replacement cycle," said Jeff Southern, deputy director of the Olinda Landfill. "So if this works out, we will get more of these."

Caterpillar officials say the tractor, which has several patents, is the first of its type to be put in use in California.

"It's been in development since the mid- to late-'90's," said Brian McDaniel, field representative for Caterpillar. "It's not something we just whipped together."

The D7E cost $720,000, about 20 percent more than a comparable diesel powered tractor, but the savings are expected to more than offset the cost.

A portion of the funding came from an Air Quality Management District grant.

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