Once we haul our trash to the bins outside, most of us don’t give it much thought, trusting that the “garbage man” will dispose of it. And while we do our part to reduce, reuse and recycle, wouldn’t it be nice to know your local trash service is also going the extra mile to protect the environment?
If you live in one of the many cities here, including San Diego, Chula Vista, Poway or Escondido, chances are your trash and recycling needs are managed by Republic Services, an industry leader in recycling and non-hazardous solid waste in cities across America.
Republic Services’ refuse haulers log more than 420,000 miles in San Diego County every month and are committed to providing reliable environmental services to customers while also protecting the planet’s natural resources. One way the company does that is by operating fleets of refuse and recycling vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
“Natural gas is economical and clean,” said Steve Miesen, division manager for Republic Services in San Diego. “And it’s easier to maintain the fleet using compressed natural gas as it’s more reliable.”
Nationwide, Republic Services operates a fleet of more than 2,500 CNG vehicles and 38 natural gas fueling stations—helping to save about 18 million gallons of diesel fuel every year. While 18 percent of the company’s fleet is powered by CNG nationwide, more than 60 percent of Republic Services’ fleet in San Diego run on clean natural gas. The company says the entire local fleet will be converted within a few years.
Cleaner air, cleaner communities
Republic Services believes that using CNG vehicles provides a competitive advantage in communities with strict clean emission initiatives that focus on protecting the environment, like San Diego. And, the conversion numbers illustrate this; each new CNG collection truck that is deployed is equivalent to planting more than 600 mature trees each year.
“It really is a perfect solution for operating waste management and recycling needs as cleanly as possible; and for our customers, it means quieter trucks and cleaner air,” said Miesen. “Cleaner air matters to all of us.”
SDG&E CNG fueling stations
As part of our mission to be the cleanest, safest and most reliable energy company in America, we operate three public-access CNG fueling stations in Miramar, Kearny Mesa and Carlsbad where our fleet of natural gas vehicles as well as fleets of public buses, refuse trucks, taxis and other transportation vehicles across the county power up on clean natural gas.
To keep pace with growing customer demand, we will be expanding the number of new public-access CNG stations across our service territory. Stay tuned for locations.
Click here to learn more about the CNG transportation fleets of Republic Services and other companies in San Diego.