Waste Management is unveiling its new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleet of trucks that are the first of its kind in Northwest Florida.
There should be 30 of the new vehicles serving Okaloosa County by the end of 2013. The trucks will reduce emissions by an average of 8,000 gallons a year per vehicle and cut 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per vehicle annually.
“Waste Management is committed to sustainability and to providing our customers with a cleaner environment,” said Domenica Farmer, senior district manager with Waste Management.
The conversion is part of the company’s larger corporate sustainability initiative to convert a minimum of 80 percent of its fleet to alternative fuel vehicles by 2020.
The Compressed Natural Gas trucks also are 50 percent quieter than the traditional diesel-powered trucks, according to a news release from Waste Management.
Waste Management has converted more than 2,000 vehicles nationwide thus far.
“Natural gas is so much better for the environment,” said Lynn Yort of Crestview, who is with Waste Management’s Gulf Coast region. “We plan to have all of the (local) diesel trucks replaced with the CNG trucks by the end of this year.”
The company also has developed a solar-powered trash compactor that can alert a truck operator when the canister is near full and has provided teachers with educational materials online on environmental sustainability.
“We have a commitment as the leader in this industry and we are putting our words into action,” Farmer said.
Crestview News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown can be reached at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
