Date:
7/6/2011 10:55 PM
Waste Management expanded its use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in its fleet with two major initiatives earlier this month. In Camden, the company opened the city’s first public-access CNG fueling station, and announced plans to convert its regional fleet to this clean-burning, environmentally friendly fuel.
The new “Clean N’ Green Fuel” public fueling station, built in partnership with PetroCard, will sell CNG to commercial fleets as well as individuals with CNG equipped vehicles, at prices typically one-third below the cost of gasoline and diesel. In addition to cost savings, CNG reduces particulate matter emissions by 86 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 32 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent. As an additional benefit, CNG trucks run 50 percent quieter than diesel trucks.
WM of New Jersey recently acquired 14 CNG collection trucks and expects to have 45 CNG vehicles in service by the end of the summer, representing nearly half its Camden-based fleet and covering routes in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties. Deploying these vehicles will help the company reach its sustainability goal of reducing fleet emissions by 15 percent and increasing fuel efficiency by 15 percent by 2020.
“We are dedicated to providing our customers with outstanding service, while doing business in the most sustainable way possible,” said AVP John Morris. “Our 45 new CNG trucks will reduce emissions equivalent to taking 3,500 gasoline-powered vehicles off the road.”
In addition to the cost-savings and environmental benefits for WM’s own fleet, this CNG fueling station will provide a place for additional private and public CNG-fleet operators to purchase fuel, expanding the economic and environmental benefits.
Across the country, on Puget Sound, WM partnered with the city of Renton, Wash., in a program that will put 19 new WM CNG-powered collection trucks on city streets. The fleet was launched at an event on June 6 by Renton Mayor Denis Law and WM Director of Operations Rob Sherman at a local IKEA store. IKEA is a Waste Management customer and is recognized as a global sustainability leader.
“This initiative with Waste Management is really all about cleaner air and quieter streets,” said Mayor Law. “It is another opportunity to improve the quality of life for Renton citizens, and an important step forward for this community’s sustainable future.”
Sherman, director of operations for Waste Management-Puget Sound, praised the City of Renton as a model of sustainability leadership for clean air as well as waste reduction, noting that the city was a frontrunner in waste reduction efforts to divert food scraps for use in compost.
“Waste Management understands that waste reduction and clean air are both critically important here and in all the communities we serve,” Sherman said. “This is another WM investment to help our community partners achieve their own sustainability goals, and it demonstrates another way we’re learning more about our customers and how to serve them than anyone else.”
In Washington State, WM also operates clean air trucks in Seattle, and will soon introduce CNG-powered trucks in the cities of Kirkland, Auburn and Federal Way. WM currently operates the largest fleet of CNG recycling and waste collection trucks in North America and will continue to expand their use throughout their operations.
Article source: http://www.cngnow.com/EN-US/NewsAndEvents/Pages/Tools/pageRedirectById.aspx?ID=457