FT. PIERCE, FL – Waste Pro’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility officially opened its doors Aug. 8 at a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception in Ft. Pierce, Fla. The new complex is the first of its kind in the area, according to the company.

The ceremony included the official ribbon cutting and reception attended by representatives from Waste Pro’s Corporate Office, Clean Energy (designer of the facility), Culpepper & Terpening, Inc. (the engineering firm on the project), and many city and county elected officials.

The facility includes more than 20,000-square feet of administrative and operational space, spanning approximately seven acres. Able to fuel 80 CNG vehicles at full capacity simultaneously, the facility is able to service not only Waste Pro trucks, but also compatible vehicles from surrounding municipalities. The project was completed ahead of schedule, with trucks being placed into service mid-August, according to Waste Pro.

The $15 million project is one phase of Waste Pro’s $100 million total investment towards the transition to CNG fuel, which was announced late last year.

Waste Pro’s Ft. Pierce fleet will include 80 CNG trucks, which was part of an initial order of 150 Mack waste collection and recycling trucks from Nextran Corporation. Partnering with Waste Pro in this facility was Clean Energy, which assisted with the design and construction of the Fort Pierce complex.

“This is a very exciting day for Waste Pro and for the City of Ft. Pierce. The CNG trucks provide a cleaner and quieter working environment for our employees, their families, and the communities we serve,” said Russell Mackie, Waste Pro regional vice president. Mackie also pointed out the abundance of natural gas in the United States, along with the benefit to the environment, as the main factors that made this decision a “no-brainer.” “It is a part of our continued commitment to an environmentally friendly means of operating,” Mackie stated.

Headquartered in Longwood, Fla., Waste Pro is a privately owned waste collection, recycling, processing and disposal company, operating in eight southeastern states. Serving more than 1.8 million residential and commercial customers from over 70 operating locations, Waste Pro maintains more than 150 exclusive municipal contracts and franchises.