Waste Management First Company to Earn More Than 100 Wildlife Habitat Council Certifications
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090219/WMLOGO)
Two Waste Management locations were also nominees for awards presented at the symposium, including Rookie of the Year, Corporate Habitat of the Year and Wings over Wetlands. Rookie of the Year and Corporate Habitat of the Year award nominees represent the top certified or re-certified programs of the year.
"The sheer number of Waste Management programs certified by WHC highlights the company's role as a leader in environmental stewardship," said WHC President
While the grassroots efforts of employee volunteers form the basis of Waste Management's wildlife programs, these programs involve a variety of community partners. Environmental experts, scouts, elementary and high schools, community volunteers and even other companies have joined the local Waste Management teams to improve wildlife habitat and provide outdoor educational opportunities.
This year's certifications also helped Waste Management meet and exceed two of its company-wide sustainability goals well before the target year of 2020. In 2007, Waste Management pledged to preserve and restore 25,000 acres of wildlife habitat across
"At Waste Management our conservation goals are aggressive but achievable. Look at what we've accomplished in just four years," said Waste Management President and CEO
Waste Management has been working closely with WHC since 2000. In 2008, the company was the first recipient of the organization's William W. Howard CEO Award recognizing the company's efforts in conservation, education and outreach efforts.
To read more about each program, please visit http://www.wm.com/wm/community/whc/index.asp
ABOUT WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL CERTIFICATIONS
Since 1990, WHC has certified 657 Wildlife at Work programs, which help to preserve land as wildlife habitat by ensuring the availability of food, water, cover and space suitable to animals' needs. It has also certified 138 CLL programs, which promote the use of certified company lands for hands-on environmental education by school and community groups. The certification process recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and conservation education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.
ABOUT WILDLIFE HABITAT COUNCIL
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
SOURCE Waste Management
Media, Debbie Figueras-Cano of Waste Management, +1-832-457-5113, dfigueras@wm.com, or Patricia Leidemer of Wildlife Habitat Council, +1-240-247-0933, pleidemer@wildlifehc.org