Refuse and recycling services company Waste Management says it plans to add 35 natural gas-powered collection vehicles to its Houston-area fleet by the end of the year, as well as a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Conroe, Texas.

Right now, Waste Management operates more than 1,400 CNG vehicles in total, and five are already in service in the Houston suburbs. The new fueling station will initially serve the company's local fleet and other commercial fleets in the area, and it will be opened to the public in the future.

"In 2012, natural gas vehicles will represent 80 percent of our annual new truck purchases, and continue for the next five years," says Eric Woods, vice president of fleet and logistics for Waste Management. "We also have 28 fueling stations in North America and plan to have 50 in operation by the end of 2012."

Waste Management is working on a corporate goal of reducing fleet emissions by 15% and increasing fuel efficiency by 15% by 2020, the company notes.