Report focuses on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, recycling viability, technology innovations and people

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2018-- Waste Management (NYSE: WM) today released its 2018 Sustainability Report. Titled “Change for the Better,” the report highlights progress toward reducing Waste Management’s (WM) greenhouse gas footprint, recycling viability, technology utilization and helping employees, customers and communities to be safe, resilient and sustainable.

“The world is changing more rapidly than ever. To sustain and succeed in the face of this change requires agility, adaptability and, above all, a resilient spirit,” said Jim Fish, president and chief executive officer of Waste Management. “We see these qualities tested and proven countless times each day by our employees who manage the environmental needs of our customers. This year’s Sustainability Report is a testament to our continued commitment to our planet and our people.”

In addition to the published report, Waste Management also updated the interactive report microsite which invites visitors to go on a digital journey to see the many ways WM collects, processes and safely manages waste.

2018 Report highlights include:

• Recycling. Waste Management continued its focus on working to keep recycling both environmentally and economically feasible for customers. Waste Management has invested more than $1 billion in processing infrastructure alone, including almost $22 million in 2017, up more than $13 million year-over-year. This leadership resulted in 15.3 million tons of recycled goods in 2017, a 91.25 percent increase in recycling tons since 2007. To adapt to recycling challenges, WM worked to increase operational efficiencies and lower operating costs at recycling facilities, and actively works with customers, communities, and environmental organizations across North America to educate about contamination. One example of new recycling education efforts includes the launch of a “no plastic bags” in the bin campaign. More information can be found at recycleoftenrecycleright.com.
• Growing a cleaner fleet. Waste Management has committed to reducing emissions associated with its fleet by 45 percent by 2038, against a 2010 baseline. From 2010 through 2017, WM has reduced fleet emissions 28 percent.
• Harnessing energy at the landfill. Waste Management operates the largest fleet of heavy-duty natural gas trucks in North America, and nearly one third of these run on 100 percent renewable natural gas generated from landfill gas.
• Technology Innovations. Investing in state-of-the-art routing technology to improve fleet efficiencies, Waste Management’s fleet reduced miles driven by 2 percent. This equates to approximately 8.9 million fewer miles a year since 2017. Optimizing routes not only reduces our environmental impact, but also increases the quality of service.

To view the 2018 update, visit Waste Management’s online Sustainability Report, sustainability.wm.com. To view past WM Sustainability Reports, visit wm.com/sustainability.

To learn more about Waste Management’s direction and long-term commitment to sustainability, watch Jim Fish and other speakers on a live stream of WM’s ninth annual Sustainability Forum on January 31, 2019. One of the keynote speakers is Valerie Craig, deputy to the chief scientist & vice president, operating programs for National Geographic. Visit the Waste Management Sustainability Forum for more information.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, 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 also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. 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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the company’s future plans, goals and performance. View these statements with caution; they are based on the facts and circumstances known to the company as of the date of the statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different. Such risks include, but are not limited to, inability to implement our plans and strategies; environmental and other regulations; permit matters; competition; commodity price fluctuations; new technology; weakness in economic conditions; and litigation or governmental proceedings. Please see the company’s most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC for additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to our business. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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Source: Waste Management

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