Waste Management is rolling out a fleet of cleaner, greener vehicles to collect trash and recyclable materials in communities throughout Rhode Island.
The 48 new trucks run on compressed natural gas (CNG), a cleaner burning fuel that reduces air particulate emissions by up to 90 percent and lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent compared to a diesel fuel. Natural gas-powered trucks also run much quieter than traditional diesel engines, improving the quality of life in the communities Waste Management serves.
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Waste Management has opened its own CNG fueling facility in Cranston, Rhode Island to support these new vehicles. The facility is equipped with 80 slow-fill bays and one fast-fill pump.
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Waste Management invested $16 million in the 48 new natural gas-powered trucks and $2.8 million in development of the CNG fueling facility. WM operates 32 CNG fueling stations in North America with plans to have nearly 45 operational by the end of 2012.
“Waste Management is embracing clean fuel technology as part of our commitment to achieving a zero emissions future,” said Chris DeSantis, Area Vice President - New England and New York, Waste Management. “We are committed to transitioning our diesel fleet to CNG, with 80 percent of our new trucks being CNG fueled.”
In addition to expanding the use of natural gas-fueled vehicles, Waste Management is working to make its routes and fleets more efficient, resulting in fewer miles driven and fewer emissions. The company is using route optimization software to reduce driving time by several million hours each year. And all truck engines are programmed to shut down automatically after idling for five minutes to save fuel and further reduce emissions.
Waste Management of Rhode Island, Inc. provides curbside residential solid waste and recycling collection service under contract to the Cities of Cranston, Providence and Woonsocket, as well as the Town of Burrillville, and serves over 4,000 customers throughout Rhode Island.
