Phoenix-based Republic Services has will add more than 200 natural gas trucks to its fleet this spring. The 226 vehicles will be distributed among the firm’s Allied Waste divisions in Gardena, Calif.; Sun Valley, Calif.; Anaheim, Calif.; Long Beach, Calif.; Pacheco, Calif.; Chula Vista, Calif.; Bellevue, Wash.; Kent, Wash.; and Boise, Idaho.

Republic will build natural gas fueling stations in Gardena, Sun Valley, Chula Vista and Bellevue to support the vehicles. Seal Beach, Calif.-based Clean Energy will oversee the design and construction of the facilities. With the purchase of the trucks, Republic will have nearly 460 alternatively fueled vehicles in its fleet.

“Dedicating 20 percent of our 2010 new truck orders to [natural gas vehicles] definitely makes a statement about our commitment to protecting the environment,” said Jeff Andrews, senior vice president of Republic’s West Region, in a press release. “It’s only fitting that we start deployment of these fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles in April, the month of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.”