Fun Facts
Waste Management is the largest operator of solid and chemical waste disposal in the US.
Bill Gates and Cascade Investment owns 34% of the company.
Waste Management earned profits of $17.4B in 2021, and the stock is up 25% year-to-date.
2/3 to 3/4 of all household waste is recyclable.
My Experience
For years, I have been leaving a Coke for our trash pickup guy. He smiles, waves to me at my office window. He matters.
This job enabled him to take his family to Disney earlier this year!
We always have used the services of Waste Management for both garbage and recycling. We take care to put the right items in the correct bin or barrel. This saves energy, protects natural resources, improves air quality, reduces soil contamination, and decreases the need for new raw materials.
Snail Mail
Recently, we received a snail mail letter from Waste Management, “We will be temporarily suspending residential recycling services due to workforce shortages as result of COVID-19. We will continue to remove contents from garbage carts and recycling bins, but all materials will be disposed of as solid waste.” (i.e. in landfills)
Some might appreciate the offer of “a credit to our account for one month of Recycle Material Offset;” however it does not placate me. The duration of Waste Management’s not recycling recyclables is unknown. Further, people will start to change their recycling habits, since sorting is clearly not a priority.
If it were that alone, I’d not be writing this post.
A few days later, Waste Management announced a rebranding for the company. Now, it’s the catchy ‘WMX Technologies Inc.’ – removing the word “Waste,” while dumping more actual waste into landfills. Are they hiding, obfuscating, matching its stock ticker, sending problems to Republic Services, its parent company? I don’t know, but it is not in line with who they say they are as a company! (See link below.)
From Waste Management’s Website
https://www.wm.com/us/en/inside-wm/who-we-are
Leaders in Sustainability & Environmental Solutions
Waste Management is more than just managing waste. We’re industry leaders helping people and organizations achieve their sustainability goals.
Our leadership serves with a focus on maximizing resource value while minimizing environmental impact so that both our economy and environment can thrive.
For us, good enough simply isn’t good enough. It’s why every day each of our 50,000+ employees go beyond what’s expected to find what’s possible. Because to us, it’s not just collection, it’s waste management.
Calling out Green-Washing
Yes, COVID is trying for everyone, but a company with the earnings, size, reputation, and stated mission of Waste Management, should be better and do better than that.
#CorporateHartz #EnvironmentalSustainability #CSR #MoreRecyclingNotLess #ESG #SaveEnergy #EliminateWaste #Jobs