Republic, Advanced Disposal Expand CNG Operations

Republic Services Inc. has expanded its compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet in the Los Angeles area, while Advanced Disposal has opened its ninth CNG station, in Batavia, Ill.

The Phoenix-based Republic added 11 CNG waste collection trucks to serve customers in the Gardena, Calif., region, according to a news release. The addition of the new trucks, which will replace older, diesel-powered vehicles, brings Republic’s CNG fleet in Gardena to 176, which covers 76 percent of Republic’s fleet service to Gardena.

"These new vehicles support our efforts to reduce carbon emissions from our fleet vehicles," said Ron Krall, area president for Republic.

In Gardena Republic serves more than 1.05 million homeowners associations and municipalities, and more than 171,329 commercial customers. The waste and recycling company operates a fueling station at its Gardena location to support its expanding CNG fleet.

Republic’s Gardena division employs 243. The company Republic also owns and operates one landfill, six transfer stations, one recycling center and six hauling operations throughout Los Angeles County.

Meanwhile, the Ponte Vedra, Fla.-based Advanced Disposal opened its CNG fueling station at its Batavia hauling facility. The station serves 14 Advanced Disposal trucks.

The company said in a news release that number will increase as it replaces retiring diesel trucks as needed.

Advanced Disposal said the station cost about $2 million. About 25 percent of the company’s collection routes in the Batavia run on CNG. The company said CNG trucks cost between $30,000 and $40,000 more than a comparable diesel truck.

"We're proud of the fact that at the end of this year, approximately 15 percent of our fleet will run on CNG," said Richard Burke, Advanced Disposal CEO.

Republic has steadily increased its commitment to CNG. Earlier in November it expanded its CNG fleet in the greater Phoenix area with the addition of four CNG trucks. The Phoenix fleet expansion brought the number of natural gas trucks operated by Republic in Arizona to 34.

Republic also added eight CNG collection trucks to its fleet serving customers throughout the greater Raleigh, N.C., area, bringing the total number of CNG vehicles operated by Republic throughout North Carolina to 25.

In July, Republic added 17 CNG trucks to its fleet in the Denver area, bringing its total number of natural gas-powered vehicles in Colorado to 82.

“We are proceeding with our CNG strategy while monitoring fuel prices,” Steven Saltzgiver, Republic vice president of fleet management, told Waste360 at the time.

Advanced Disposal in October opened a CNG fueling station in Hartland, Wis. It spent $1.7 million to add the CNG station at its hauling facility in Hartland.

In September it opened a $1.6 million CNG fueling station at its hauling facility in Macon, Ga., and it is now operating 15 CNG trucks in the area, with plans to expand the fleet. The new station is the only multi-truck CNG station in the Macon metro area.