Waste Management First In Ottawa with Natural Gas Fuelled Waste Collection Vehicles

Environment Services Company to Convert Fleet to Natural Gas

OTTAWA, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Residents of Ottawa can look forward to a cleaner and quieter city when Waste Management (NYSE:WM) introduces 25 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelled trucks to collect waste and recycling in 2012 as a result of being awarded a collection district by the City of Ottawa. Waste Management also plans to convert its current commercial collection fleet to CNG as part of the company's North American fleet conversion strategy.

The CNG powered trucks, will contribute to a smaller carbon footprint, including nearly zero air particulate and up to 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The trucks also run quieter than traditional diesel engines, resulting in less noise pollution.

"Waste Management is embracing clean fuel technology as part of our commitment to achieving a zero emissions future," said Sherry Stevenson, municipal affairs manager for WM. "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."

For each truck converted to CNG, the use of diesel fuel is reduced by an average of 8,000 gallons per year delivering a reduction of 22 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

WM will be constructing a CNG fuelling station at the Westbrook Road facility in Stittsville. WM operates 17 CNG fueling stations in North America with plans to have nearly 50 operational by the end of 2012.

"Introducing CNG trucks is an important part of our long-term sustainability strategy to reduce emissions by 15 percent and increase fuel efficiency by 15 percent by 2020," said Stevenson. "We are also working with truck and engine manufacturers to test hybrid systems, and continue to make our routes and fleets more efficient. This means fewer miles driven and fewer emissions."

Earlier this year, Waste Management announced the conversion of its 100 truck commercial fleet in Vancouver to CNG with a fueling station at its collection facility in Coquitlam.

The company has also implemented route optimization software that will reduce driving time by several million hours each year. And all truck engines are programmed to shut down automatically after idling for five minutes to save fuel and further reduce emissions.

WM has received a 2011 NVG Achievement Award for the innovative leadership of its North American sustainability strategy. In addition the company received the Energy Vision's Corporate Leadership Energy Vision Award for its strategic vision and leadership.

Background:

• Converting from diesel to CNG vehicles reduces smog-causing nitrogen oxides and diesel particulate matter by more than 90 per cent and cuts greenhouse gases by up to 25 per cent over the baseline scenario.
  
• A 15 per cent increase in fuel efficiency by WM trucks is estimated to save 350 million gallons of fuel and a corresponding reduction of about 3.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
  
• WM's CNG fleet includes more than 1,400 vehicles. This represents more than 3.5 per cent of the company's collection vehicles. WM also runs 2,200 vehicles on various blends of biodiesel.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management (WM) is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is one of the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in North America. The company's customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.

Image with caption: "The new Waste Management CNG powered trucks refuel at a CNG fuelling station. (CNW Group/WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120118_C4858_PHOTO_EN_9006.jpg

For further information:

Waste Management
Sherry Stevenson
613.836.8565
[e-mail] 

Thornley Fallis Communications
Sherrilynne Starkie
613.321.3355 x225
[e-mail]