California Environmental Leadership

As North America's leading provider of comprehensive waste, recycling and environmental services, Waste Management's 50,000 employees are committed to being leaders in environmental stewardship, as well as trusted and valued partners to the communities we serve.

In California, our 6,000 employees offer a broader range of comprehensive waste services than any other company in the state; and we have pioneered several major environmental initiatives to reduce both criteria pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. WM is California's largest recycler of municipal solid waste, and we operate the largest fleet of clean natural gas collection vehicles. For the past two decades, we have also taken a leadership role in policy formation and supported landmark legislative and regulatory programs that have helped make California an international leader in environmental protection.

Today, Waste Management is a Respected Environmental Leader on:

Climate Change:

WM was a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. We were the first solid waste company to join the California Climate Action Registry. We were the first Fortune 500 company to support and lobby for passage of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Waste Reduction through In-plant Services:

WM's Upstream Unit has helped the BP refinery in Carson minimize the generation of hazardous wastes through an improved dewatering process, and we helped the refinery reuse 25,000 tons per year of industrial byproducts, recycle HDPE drums that were previously landfilled, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reuse:

WM is the founding corporate sponsor of Freecycle, the world's largest volunteer network of people devoted to reusing, rather than disposing unneeded items. Freecycle now has three million members, and is adding 20,000 new members each month. (www.freecycle.org)

Recycling:

WM was the first solid waste company to support passage of California's landmark mandatory recycling law, AB 939 (Sher). We are California's largest recycler of municipal solid waste. We provide recycling services to two million residential households and we operate 15 material recovery facilities. We were the first solid waste company to support California's Electronic Waste Recovery Act.

Wetlands Preservation and Habitat Protection:

WM operates 24 landfills throughout North America that have special wildlife habitat and wetlands protection programs certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council. In California, our Altamont, El Sobrante and Kirby Canyon landfills actively manage thousands of acres of protected wetlands and habitat for threatened species.

Generating Renewable Energy:

Nationwide, WM is one of the largest producers of waste-based energy. In California, our Altamont, Simi Valley, Bradley and El Sobrante landfills generate 21.5 megawatts of electricity - enough to power more than 22,000 homes. Our Wheelabrator open-loop biomass plant in Shasta handles 700,000 tons per year of wood and agricultural wastes and generates enough electricity to power 50,000 homes.

Clean Fuels and Low-Emission Vehicles:

WM supported the adoption of Rule 1193 by the South Coast Air Quality Management District requiring that new solid waste vehicles be powered by clean burning natural gas. We operate California's largest fleet of 100 percent natural gas fueled collection trucks and 13 natural gas fueling stations. We are currently testing hybrid heavy-duty collection trucks. We supported regulations by the Air Resources Board mandating the use of best available control technologiesto reduce diesel particulate emissions from diesel-powered garbage and recycling trucks.

Sustainable Business Practices at Waste Management Facilities:

WM is expanding our on-site recycling programs and capturing hazardous materials such as electronic waste, household batteries and fluorescent tubes. We are purchasing recycled-content office supplies. We are conducting energy efficiency audits at our sites and purchasing green power where the option is available. We are "greening" our mechanics' shops through pollution prevention and more efficient materials management.

Environmental Leadership Awards for WM's California Programs

• Corporate Stewardship Award at the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference
• Corporate Leadership Award from the Coalition for Clean Air
• Clean Air Leadership Award from the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (2002)
• Habitat Management Award from the Wildlife Habitat Council for El Sobrante, Altamont, and Kirby Canyon Landfills
• National Partner Award for Innovation in Alternative Fuels from the Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program
• Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for Advanced Glass Sorting Technology
• National Achievement Award from the Natural Gas Vehicle Association