Republic Services Invests $25 Million in Alternative Fuel Recycling and Waste Collection Trucks in St. Louis Area

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - Oct 17, 2012) - Republic Services (NYSE: RSG), a recycling and waste company that serves more than 200,000 households and 27,000 businesses in the St. Louis region, is investing nearly $25 million to enhance its fleet with 72 compressed natural gas (CNG) collection vehicles.

This move brings the Company's investment in sustainable operation in the St. Louis area to nearly $45 million this year. In May, the company announced a $19 million investment in its two area recycling centers that will effectively triple Republic Services' recycling capacity in St. Louis.

The new CNG vehicles will replace older diesel models and provide a cleaner and quieter collection experience for residents and businesses in the St. Louis area. Natural gas produces 23 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel fuel, which means cleaner air for the St. Louis community. Vehicles utilizing CNG also are nearly 90 percent quieter than similar diesel models.

With a fleet of 72 new CNG vehicles, Republic will operate one of the largest CNG fleets in the St. Louis area, along with AT&T and the St. Louis Airport Authority.

"While there is a significant upfront financial commitment involved in our switch to compressed natural gas, the long-term environmental and economic benefits merit the change," said Tim Trost, area president, Republic Services. "By investing in a domestically produced, cost-effective fuel source, each CNG vehicle's emissions will be reduced by up to 23 percent compared to its diesel counterparts."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 80 to 90 percent of the natural gas used in the United States in recent years was domestically produced.

"Air pollution is a critical concern in the St. Louis area and reducing transportation emissions will have a positive impact on our region's air quality," said Kevin Herdler, executive director of St. Louis Regional Clean Cities. "There is an increasing need for improvement, and Republic Services is setting a strong example by investing millions in a cleaner, new technology that will improve our air quality."

Republic Services is planning to continue to build its alternative-fuel fleet and expects to operate nearly 80 CNG-fueled trucks in the St. Louis area by the end of 2012. The investment is driven by the company's continuous effort to incorporate practices into its operations that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

On a nationwide basis, Republic renewed its commitment to improving the environment in 2012 by dedicating 68 percent of its new truck purchases to natural gas vehicles (NGVs). At its current rate of conversion, Republic plans to have more than 3,100 trucks nationwide running on natural gas and other alternative fuels by the end of 2015.

"We're always looking for projects that will improve our environmental footprint and help our customers meet their own sustainability goals," Trost said. "Our investments in recycling and alternative fuels not only help minimize our environmental impact, but also enable St. Louis residents and businesses to limit their own."

Republic Services is the only total waste stream solutions provider in the St. Louis region, making managing waste easy by collecting and processing recyclables, compostable materials and trash. Nationally, Republic Services operates in 39 states and Puerto Rico.

About Republic Services
In the St. Louis area, Republic Services serves more than 200,000 households and more than 27,000 commercial and industrial accounts, with 313 trucks, 16 waste facilities and two recycling centers. For more information about Republic Services in the St. Louis region, visit republicserviceseasternmosouthernil.com.

Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in the U.S. non-hazardous solid waste industry. Through its subsidiaries, Republic's collection companies, transfer stations, recycling centers and landfills focus on providing reliable environmental services and solutions for commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Republic and its employees believe in protecting the planet and applying common sense solutions to customers' waste and recycling challenges. For more information, visit the Republic website at republicservices.com. 

The Company participates in investor presentations and conferences throughout the year. Interested parties can find a schedule of these conferences at republicservices.com by selecting "Calendar" on the investor relations page. Audio and other presentations from earnings calls and investor conferences are also available on the investor relations page of the website.