Progressive Adds CNG Waste, Recycling Vehicles in St. Louis

Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. has launched a new fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) waste and recycling vehicles in St. Louis.

The Vaughan, Ontario-based Progressive Waste added 25 CNG vehicles to its St. Louis fleet. Progressive also has its own fueling station there, according to a news release.

By the end of the year Progressive expects to operate 40 CNG trucks, which would comprise about 50 percent of its fleet.

Progressive Waste operates the largest landfill in Missouri and collects more than 4,000 tons of trash daily. Progressive, like other haulers, has not let a recent drop in diesel costs affect its plans to convert at portion of its fleet to CNG.

“The addition of CNG trucks furthers our commitment to the environment and sustainability in the St. Louis area,” said John Drier, area manager for Progressive. “This adds to our list of green initiatives such as our LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified office building, our Methane to Megawatts program (converting landfill methane into a clean renewable energy source), and the thousands of tons of recycling processed each year.”

Progressive now has added nearly 250 natural gas vehicles to its waste and recycling fleet since it announced a corporate plan in May 2013 to convert to CNG. It expects to have as much as 55 percent of its fleet replaced by CNG vehicles annually in the United States and Canada. By 2019, it plans on having 18-20 percent of its fleet powered by natural gas.