A growing number of Republic Services Inc.’s natural gas-powered vehicles will use increasing amounts of Clean Energy’s Redeem renewable natural gas (RNG) across 21 states over the next five years.
According to Clean Energy, the new agreement with the waste and recycling company represents the widest geographic usage of Redeem RNG in North America. It is projected to reduce fleet emissions by roughly 250,000 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year.
“As the operator of one of the largest vocational fleets in the country, we are continually looking for sustainable business solutions, and committed to the reduction of fleet emissions,” says Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services. “We continue to expand our fleet of clean-powered collection vehicles, and RNG is a seamless complement with additional environmental benefits.”
RNG is derived from biogenic methane, or biogas, which is methane generated by the decomposition of organic waste from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment facilities. Once the gas is processed and purified, it is sent into the natural gas pipeline and made commercially available to Clean Energy customers as Redeem.
Republic Services, a natural gas customer of Clean Energy, also supplies some of the gas from its landfills to create Redeem, demonstrating a circular economy.
“We commend Republic Services for its long-term use of natural gas to support sustainability objectives and furthering the growth of RNG as a vehicle fuel with the expanded use of Redeem,” notes Chad Lindholm, vice president of Clean Energy. “Together we will work to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and to make a positive environmental impact on communities across America.”
In total, Republic Services operates a fleet of more than 3,000 natural gas vehicles and 43 natural gas fueling stations.
