Republic Services, a recycling and waste company that serves more than 200,000 households and 27,000 businesses in the St. Louis region, is investing nearly USD 25 million to enhance its fleet with 72 compressed natural gas (CNG) waste collection vehicles. The new CNG vehicles will replace older diesel models and provide a cleaner and quieter collection experience for residents and businesses in the St. Louis area.
This move brings the Company’s investment in sustainable operation in the St. Louis area to nearly $45 million this year. In May, the company announced a $19 million investment in its two area recycling centers that will effectively triple Republic Services’ recycling capacity in St. Louis.
Natural gas produces 23 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel fuel, which means cleaner air for the St. Louis community. Vehicles utilizing CNG also are nearly 90 percent quieter than similar diesel models.
“While there is a significant upfront financial commitment involved in our switch to compressed natural gas, the long-term environmental and economic benefits merit the change,” said Tim Trost, area president, Republic Services. “By investing in a domestically produced, cost-effective fuel source, each CNG vehicle’s emissions will be reduced by up to 23 percent compared to its diesel counterparts.”
“Air pollution is a critical concern in the St. Louis area and reducing transportation emissions will have a positive impact on our region’s air quality,” said Kevin Herdler, executive director of St. Louis Regional Clean Cities. “There is an increasing need for improvement, and Republic Services is setting a strong example by investing millions in a cleaner, new technology that will improve our air quality.”
The company expects to grow the number of its CNG-fueled trucks in the St. Louis area to 80 by the end of 2012. The ongoing investment in natural gas vehicles is driven by the company’s continuous effort to incorporate practices into its operations that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Combining all fleets, the company currently operates more than 700 vehicles using compressed natural gas.
(This article primarily compiled using information from a Republic Services press release)
http://www.benzinga.com/news/12/10/3001887/republic-services-invests-25-million-in-alternative-fuel-recycling-and-waste-coll:
I haven’t sighted the press release yet but Republic Services media tells me the Benzinga article is same. PR will be added to website any day now.
