Waste
Management will soon begin replacing its diesel-fueled garbage collection
vehicles with more environmentally friendly trucks powered by compressed natural
gas, possibly converting the entire fleet by next year.
Officials of the trash hauler were granted three ordinance variances by the Plainfield Township Zoning Hearing Board that will allow Waste Management to establish a CNG fueling station — for both its fleet and the general public — near its corporate offices and Grand Central Landfill.
By going green, the company hopes to reduce fleet emissions and increase fuel efficiency. The company has set up more than 50 natural gas fueling stations across the country, 22 of which are open to the public or outside fleet operators.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-plainfield-township-waste-management-fleet-
Officials of the trash hauler were granted three ordinance variances by the Plainfield Township Zoning Hearing Board that will allow Waste Management to establish a CNG fueling station — for both its fleet and the general public — near its corporate offices and Grand Central Landfill.
By going green, the company hopes to reduce fleet emissions and increase fuel efficiency. The company has set up more than 50 natural gas fueling stations across the country, 22 of which are open to the public or outside fleet operators.
The board approved variances to allow Waste Management to establish a retail
fuel center without a convenience store or auto service facility as a second
principal use to providing fuel for its fleet. The trash hauler and landfill
operator was also granted a variance to allow for outdoor, above-ground
storage.
Federal and state law requires fuel storage to be above ground for inspection and maintenance, but the township's ordinance mandates below ground storage, Waste Management's attorney Matt Goodrich said.
Waste Management received an $806,248 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, plus $490,000 from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The township Planning Commission considered the application March 17 and recommended approval of the variances.
Once the fuel is pumped on-site via an existing UGI line, Waste Management will use a compression buffer vessel to store the gas above ground before it makes its way to the fuel stations. One will be constructed initially but up to three can be built if demand is there, said Brian Bogar, design manager for ET Environmental of Mystic, Conn.
Stations for both the fleet and the public will be monitored by security cameras around the clock, he said. Public pumps will operate on a card swipe system and will walk the consumer through an on-screen tutorial before issuing a PIN code. After receiving training, truck drivers will be retrained annually.
Waste Management will order 25 collection trucks powered by compressed natural gas to replace half its fleet, with the remaining 25 likely to be replaced by next year, said area fleet director Jim Pryor, who oversees New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Once replaced, diesel vehicles will be dispersed to Waste Management facilities in Delaware, North Jersey and Maryland that aren't yet set up for CNG, said John Hambrose, Waste Management community relations coordinator for the greater Mid-Atlantic area.
Trucks can go just as far on diesel as an equivalent amount of CNG, but the cost of CNG is much lower, Pryor said. The company employs more than 2,700 trucks nationwide fueled by CNG, he said.
"Our goal is to be 100 percent CNG," he said. "Next year, Pen Argyl could be 100 percent CNG."
Kevin Duffy is a freelance writer.
Federal and state law requires fuel storage to be above ground for inspection and maintenance, but the township's ordinance mandates below ground storage, Waste Management's attorney Matt Goodrich said.
Waste Management received an $806,248 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, plus $490,000 from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The township Planning Commission considered the application March 17 and recommended approval of the variances.
Once the fuel is pumped on-site via an existing UGI line, Waste Management will use a compression buffer vessel to store the gas above ground before it makes its way to the fuel stations. One will be constructed initially but up to three can be built if demand is there, said Brian Bogar, design manager for ET Environmental of Mystic, Conn.
Stations for both the fleet and the public will be monitored by security cameras around the clock, he said. Public pumps will operate on a card swipe system and will walk the consumer through an on-screen tutorial before issuing a PIN code. After receiving training, truck drivers will be retrained annually.
Waste Management will order 25 collection trucks powered by compressed natural gas to replace half its fleet, with the remaining 25 likely to be replaced by next year, said area fleet director Jim Pryor, who oversees New York City, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Once replaced, diesel vehicles will be dispersed to Waste Management facilities in Delaware, North Jersey and Maryland that aren't yet set up for CNG, said John Hambrose, Waste Management community relations coordinator for the greater Mid-Atlantic area.
Trucks can go just as far on diesel as an equivalent amount of CNG, but the cost of CNG is much lower, Pryor said. The company employs more than 2,700 trucks nationwide fueled by CNG, he said.
"Our goal is to be 100 percent CNG," he said. "Next year, Pen Argyl could be 100 percent CNG."
Kevin Duffy is a freelance writer.
Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-plainfield-township-waste-management-fleet-
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