Waste Management Draws on Phoenix Open Experience to Rate Shell
Houston Open Winner in Sustainability for Participating PGA TOUR Golf
Tournaments
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2014--
Waste Management (NYSE: WM) today announced that the Shell Houston Open
has been named the winner of its inaugural Sustainability Challenge. In
a contest that invited all PGA TOUR tournaments to detail their
respective sustainable event initiatives, The Shell Houston Open
received the highest ranking out of 24 tournament submissions for its
cumulative score in the following categories: Materials Management,
Natural Resources Tracking and Conservation, Economic Impact and Overall
Sustainability.
In an effort to spread sustainability-driven event planning, similar to
the successful programs implemented by Waste Management at its eponymous
Phoenix Open, The PGA TOUR distributed a voluntary questionnaire. The
sustainability services team at Waste Management graded participating
tournaments.
As the winners of the Sustainability Challenge, Shell Houston Open
executives were invited to attend the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open
and Waste Management’s fourth annual Executive Sustainability Forum
during tournament week (Jan. 27 – Feb. 2, 2014).
“In addition to honoring us for our sustainability initiatives at the
Shell Houston Open, Waste Management was also responsible for driving
much of the behind-the-scenes efforts that are helping us build the most
sustainable event possible,” said Steve Timms, tournament director for
the Shell Houston Open and president and CEO of the Houston Golf
Association. “We are committed to the belief that sustainability is the
right thing to do.”
“Waste Management is not only dedicated to greening the game of golf and
raising the bar in sustainability and sports, but we also have a social
responsibility to educate and engage others,” said Dave Aardsma, chief
sales and marketing officer, Waste Management. “The Sustainability
Challenge has provided us the opportunity to recognize the successes of
PGA TOUR tournaments like the Shell Houston Open so that others will be
encouraged to follow our lead.”
Since 2007, Waste Management has been a committed partner to the Houston
Golf Association and the Shell Houston Open, played at the Golf Club of
Houston in Humble, Texas. In 2013, the Shell Houston Open committed to
executing a sustainable tournament and to reducing the amount of
materials sent to the landfill. To help achieve this, Waste Management
designed a plan to produce less waste and enhance diversion through
material reuse, recycling and composting. Through the development of an
enhanced triple-bottom-line sustainability strategy (incorporating three
dimensions of performance: social, environmental and financial) the 2013
tournament exceeded environmental goals and expectations and achieved an
overall diversion rate of 87.3 percent.
As title sponsor of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Waste Management
continues to evolve innovative programs to increase environmental and
social responsibility at the tournament. The Waste Management Phoenix
Open has become a major platform for showcasing Waste Management’s
sustainability initiatives, including the four Rs – reduce, reuse,
recycle and recover. In 2012, Waste Management launched the “Zero Waste
Challenge,” an initiative aimed at controlling materials brought into
the event. In 2014, Waste Management continues the “Zero Waste
Challenge” for a third year as part of its company-wide effort to reach
its goal to triple the amount of recyclable materials nationwide by the
year 2020 and extract the most value possible from all of the materials
the company manages.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON GOLF ASSOCIATION
Houston Golf Association is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501c
(3) organization, that uses golf promotion to generate funds that can
help worthy causes make a difference in our community. A prolific
charitable fundraiser, bolstered by a strong group of volunteers, the
HGA has generated more than $59.7 million for local charity through its
golf-related activities at the Shell Houston Open since 1974.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management (WM) is the leading provider of comprehensive waste
management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the
company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery,
and disposal services. It is one of the largest residential recyclers
and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and
landfill gas-to-energy facilities in North America. The company’s
customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal
customers throughout North America. To learn more information about
Waste Management visit www.wm.com
or www.thinkgreen.com.
Source: Waste Management
Waste Management
Janette Coates, 602-579-6152
jcoates@wm.com
or
The
Artigue Agency
Shannon Keller, 310-210-1866
shannon@artigueagency.com
