Veolia ES Solid Waste has begun using a fleet of 32 compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles in its Fort Myers, Fla., service area. The firm also has opened an on-site CNG fueling station that uses a technology that allows trucks to fuel during overnight hours to minimize downtime.

According to Veolia, CNG produces 29 percent less carbon dioxide than oil, and its CNG-powered trucks — which were built by McNeilus — are 15 percent quieter than trucks with diesel engines.

“A CNG-powered fleet is a win-win for Veolia and for Lee County,” said Jim Long, president and CEO of Veolia ES Solid Waste, in a statement. “As a domestic alternative energy solution, CNG is better for the environment and more efficient to operate than traditional diesel, so our customers can feel good knowing that their waste service provider is part of the environmental solution.”

• For more on alternative fuels in the waste industry, read "Making the Grade?" from Waste Age's August 2010 issue.