Eight commercial and government fleets were honored for their work to reduce toxic diesel emissions as part of the Northeast Diesel Collaborative Breathe Easy Leadership Program the EPA has announced.

The 2015 awardees include FreshDirect in New York City; Massachusetts Port Authority; New York City's Department of Environmental Protection; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Highway Division (MassDOT); NPL Construction in Woodbridge, Conn.; Milea Truck Sales in New York City; TH Malloy & Sons in Cumberland, R.I.; Newport Biodiesel in Newport, R.I.; and Buckley Heating and Cooling in Wakefield, R.I.

FreshDirect, a pioneer in online food delivery fleet, has been delivering groceries sourced from local farmers since 2002.

“We work hard to reduce our impact on the environment, and we will continue to support and encourage the industry’s exploration of more efficient and environmentally-friendly options for transporting high quality fresh food,” said Jason Ackerman, FreshDirect's co-founder and CEO.

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative Breathe Easy recognitions are given for outstanding service in reducing air pollution to protect human health and the environment. Recognitions are given to individuals or organizations whose actions best reflect the goals of the collaborative, including the retrofit and replacement of older diesel engines, the reduction of idling from diesel engines, the creation of education and outreach opportunities for diesel emission reduction strategies, and the promotion of cleaner fuels above and beyond local, state, and federal requirements. For the 2015 program, emissions benefits had to have occurred within the past two years.

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative (NEDC) is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state agencies, and private and non-profit groups, and includes six New England states: New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The collaborative is committed to reducing diesel emissions, improving public health, and promoting clean diesel technology.