Two NGV Milestones for Waste Management

Two significant natural gas vehicle (NGV) milestones have been reached by Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. The company has opened its 100th natural gas fueling station at a ceremony in Oklahoma City, attended by industry representatives and local and state officials. And it now has 6,000 natural gas trucks in operation.

Waste Management’s NGV fleet is the largest heavy-duty fleet of its kind in North America.

“Waste Management’s mission is to maximize resource value, while minimizing environmental impact so that our customers, our company, our economy and our environment can thrive,” said Jim Trevathan, Waste Management executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Today’s milestone is certainly a stellar example of this, and we’re proud to be the leader in the adoption of natural gas for our heavy-duty fleet and we plan to do even more!”

As a pioneer in the use of natural gas in its fleet since the early 1990’s, Waste Management established a goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve the efficiency of its on-road fleet efficiency by 15 percent by 2020 (based on 2007 levels). The goal was achieved in 2011, and with the increasing adoption of natural gas vehicles, the company continues to exceed this goal each year.

Waste Management Natural Gas Fleet

Waste Management vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) emit nearly zero particulate emissions, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and are quieter than diesel trucks.

For every diesel truck replaced with natural gas, the company reduces its use of diesel fuel by an average of 8,000 gallons per year along with a reduction of 14 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year (the equivalent of a 15 percent emissions reduction per truck).

“Waste Management invests in building our own fueling infrastructure to refuel our vehicles, while making CNG available to other commercial fleets and individuals,” said Marty Tufte, Waste Management corporate fleet director.

All smiles for the Waste Management team at the 100th CNG station opening.

Waste Management Natural Gas Fueling Stations

Waste Management operates 100 fueling stations in North America, with 25 open to the public. The company constructs and finances the construction of its fueling stations, which it owns and operates, and purchases the fuel.

Waste Management trucks connect to fuel systems at the station and are refueled via a slow overnight fueling process. At the company’s public access fueling stations, dedicated fast-fill pumps serve both commercial and consumer vehicles.

NGVAmerica comments

U.S. natural gas vehicle trade association NGVAmerica, comments on Waste Management’s successful deployment of natural gas fuelled vehicles:

Waste Management’s newly-deployed trucks are powered by Cummins Westport’s low-NOx natural gas engines. These engines are over eighty percent cleaner than the current federal emission standards, providing significant emission reductions of ozone-forming pollutants, resulting in cleaner air for the communities they serve.  Waste Management also is a leader in developing and using renewable natural gas (RNG), produced at landfills — turning trash, into clean, green energy used to power its trucks.  Renewable natural gas powered vehicles offset greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent.

“NGVAmerica today offers it congratulations to a true industry leader,” said NGVAmerica Chairman Mitchell Pratt.  “The benefits of natural gas and its ability to transform transportation in America while reducing foreign energy dependency and creating jobs is undeniable. It is great to be able to point to true success stories like Waste Management.”

Source: Waste Management

Waste Management is a member of NGVAmerica and associate member of NGV Global.