Ottawa, Ontario – Waste Management is adding 25 new compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to collect waste and recycling in Ottawa in 2012. The company also plans to convert its current commercial collection fleet to CNG as part of its North American fleet conversion strategy.
The trucks will contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, including nearly zero air particulate and up to 25 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The trucks also run quieter than traditional diesel engines.
“Waste Management is embracing clean fuel technology as part of our commitment to achieving a zero emissions future,” said Sherry Stevenson, municipal affairs manager. “We’ve committed to transitioning our diesel fleet to CNG with 80 per cent of our new trucks being CNG fuelled, and these 25 trucks in Ottawa are part of this initiative. We also plan to replace our commercial diesel collection vehicles to natural gas through the normal fleet replacement schedule.”
Waste Management will be constructing a CNG fuelling station at the Westbrook Road facility in Stittsville. The company operates 17 CNG fuelling stations in North America, with plans to have nearly 50 operational by the end of 2012.
Earlier this year, the company announced the conversion of its 100-truck commercial fleet in Vancouver to CNG, with a fuelling station at its collection facility in Coquitlam. It has also implemented route optimization software that will reduce driving time by several million hours each year, and all trucks are programmed to shut off their engines automatically after idling for five minutes to save fuel and further reduce emissions.
