HOUSTON, May 11, 2012/PRNewswire/
-- Waste
Management (NYSE:WM) today announced plans to expand
its fleet of natural gas-powered collection vehicles in the
Houstonarea and open a new compressed natural
gas (CNG) fueling station in Conroethat will
increase access to the clean-burning fuel.
Joining Waste Management at the opening event were
representatives from the City of Conroeand
from Parkway Family and NGV Conversions.
Waste Management currently operates five CNG-powered
collection vehicles in Houston's north
suburban communities and expects to roll out an additional
35 in the area by the end of 2012. The public fueling
station will refuel Waste Management's local fleet and
sell CNG to commercial fleets. Soon, it will also open to
retail consumers with CNG-equipped vehicles.
"Since natural gas-powered collection trucks run
cleaner and quieter, we've made the commitment to use
more in our local operations and support them and our
community by opening a public CNG station," said
Don Smith, area vice president for Waste
Management's Texasand
Oklahomaregion.
"We are dedicated to providing our customers with
outstanding service while doing business in the most
sustainable manner possible."
CNG is one of the cleanest fuels currently available for
use in heavy-duty trucks. Its use reduces particulate
matter emissions to nearly zero, carbon monoxide emissions
by 75 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 49
percent, and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent. As an
additional benefit, CNG offers cost savings compared to
traditional fuels and runs 50 percent quieter than diesel
trucks.
The Conroefueling station and local CNG
vehicles are one element in Waste Management's larger
sustainability efforts. In 2007, the company set a goal of
reducing fleet emissions by 15 percent and increasing fuel
efficiency by 15 percent by 2020.
"Waste Management already operates over 1400 CNG
vehicles, the largest fleet of CNG recycling and waste
collection trucks in North America," said
Eric Woods, vice president of Fleet &
Logistics, Waste Management. "Each additional Class 8
diesel truck we replace with natural gas reduces diesel use
by an average of 8,000 gallons per year and cuts annual
greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 22 metric tons.
"In 2012, natural gas vehicles will represent 80
percent of our annual new truck purchases and continue for
the next five years. We also have 28 fueling stations in
North Americaand plan to have 50 in operation
by the end of 2012."
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management (WM) is the leading provider of
comprehensive waste management services in North
America. Through its subsidiaries, the company
provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource
recovery, and disposal services. It is one of the largest
residential recyclers and also a leading developer,
operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill
gas-to-energy facilities in North America. The
company's customers include residential, commercial,
industrial, and municipal customers throughout North
America. To learn more information about Waste
Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
SOURCE Waste Management
Lisa Doughty of Waste Management, +1-713-647-5546,
Ldoughty@wm.com
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