Biggest U.S. Waste Hauler Expands Fleet of ‘Trash Gas’ Trucks

Waste Management Inc., the largest hauler of waste in the U.S., next week a will add its 1,000th truck fueled by natural gas, a landmark that reflects a trend toward new trucking fleets powered by alternative energy sources. About half of those trucks, including the newest, run on so-called trash gas — captured and converted methane from landfills, which generates 80 to 90 percent fewer carbon emissions than diesel fuel. The other half of the fleet is powered by compressed natural gas, which emits 10 to 20 percent fewer carbon emissions. The Houston-based company operates 300 landfills nationwide and runs 22,000 trucks daily, including 720 in Southern California. All of the trucks run out of the company’s Los Angeles fueling station are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) generated by the company’s landfill in Altamont, Calif., which produces up to 13,000 gallons of LNG daily. The company intends to build another LNG facility in Southern California that officials say will power another 300 waste-fueled trucks.