Waste Management Unveils Plans to Open Multimillion Dollar Natural Gas Fueling Station in Des Moines

June 4, 2012 - PRLog -- DES MOINES, IA — Waste Management  today announced plans to open a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station that will help control rising fuel prices and increase access to the clean-burning fuel.  It will also expand its fleet of natural gas-powered collection vehicles in the Des Moines area by September 2012.

Waste Management currently operates 1,400 CNG-powered waste collection trucks across the United States and expects to roll out 16 in Des Moines by the end of 2012.  This will be Waste Management’s first fleet of compressed natural gas trucks in Iowa.  By October 1st, the fueling station will refuel Waste Management’s local fleet and by early next year, make CNG available to commercial fleets and private individuals with CNG-equipped vehicles.  Helping Waste Management in this sustainable initiative are Metro Waste Authority, MidAmerica Energy Company and the City of Des Moines.

“Since natural gas-powered collection trucks are the sustainable choice, we are committed to adding CNG-fueled recycling and waste trucks.  In addition to providing cleaner and quieter local operations with CNG trucks, we are happy to support our community by opening a public CNG station,” said Kent Harrell, area vice president for Waste Management of Iowa.  “We are dedicated to providing our customers in this region and across the country with outstanding service while being a positive environmental contributor in the communities we serve.”

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 Des Moines fueling 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 continues to make a positive impact on the environment and our bottom line by adding to our fleet of 1,400 CNG recycling and waste collection trucks,” said Eric Woods, vice president of Fleet & Logistics, Waste Management. “We have the largest fleet of CNG recycling and waste collection trucks in North America. 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 Waste Management’s annual new truck purchases and continue for the next five years.  Waste Management has also opened 28 CNG fueling stations in North America and plans to have 50 in operation by the end of 2012.  For more information on Waste Management’s commitment to sustainability and the environment, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreenfromhome.com.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, 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 also one of the largest residential recycler and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. 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.