Waste Management Inc. will establish its first fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks in Ohio with plans to convert its waste and recycling collection operations in Ohio to the clean burning fuel vehicles.

As part of the move, the company will install a new CNG fueling facility at its Canal Winchester site. Waste Management will convert 55 trucks to CNG.

“This new fueling facility will give us the direct capability to fuel a CNG fleet in the Columbus area, and with the CNG fleet, we’ll lower our fleet emissions, helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” says Frank Fello, senior district manager for Waste Management of Ohio, in a statement.

The trucks will emit nearly zero air particulates and up to 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The quieter engines also reduce noise during collection operations.

Waste Management claims its fleet of about 1,000 CNG and liquefied (LNG) vehicles are the largest in the North American waste industry. Its sustainability goals include lowering emissions by 15 percent and increasing the fuel efficiency of its fleet by 15 percent by the year 2020.