About Us –Operations

Operations


Collection
Waste Management provides solid waste collection services to millions of customers across North America, ranging in size from the single residential subscription to large national customers requiring comprehensive, one-source waste programs to serve hundreds of locations. With about 22,000 collection and
transfer vehicles, the company has the largest trucking fleet in the waste industry and collects nearly 74 million tons of solid waste per year.

Transfer
With much of the waste collected by Waste Management going to its own landfills,
a supporting network of transfer stations provides an important link for efficient disposal. Waste Management has strategically located transfer stations to consolidate, compact and load waste from collection vehicles into long-haul
trailers, barge containers and rail cars for transport to landfills.

Disposal
Waste Management operating the largest network of landfills in its industry manages the disposal of more than 116 million tons of waste per year. The company operates its sites according to standards of safety and environmental compliance that go beyond regulatory requirements.

Waste Management is focused on solutions that impact the future of solid waste management, including Next Generation TechnologySM, which accelerates the
decomposition of organic waste so that it occurs within years instead of decades. Currently, the company is conducting research to confirm the environmental benefits of this alternative method for managing landfill waste.

Recycling
As the largest recycler of municipal solid waste in North America, Waste Management processes 8 million tons of recyclable materials each year. Through the resources of WM Recycle America, we provide cost-efficient, environmentally-sound recycling programs for municipalities, businesses and households across the U.S. and in Canada.

Renewable Energy
For many years, Waste Management has worked with businesses, industries and
public utilities across North America to develop beneficial use projects from landfill gas. This gas is a reliable, renewable energy source that is produced naturally as
waste decomposes in landfills. When collected, it can be used directly as medium Btu gas for industrial use or sold to gas-to-energy plants to fuel engine or turbine-driven generators that produce electricity.

In addition, our waste-to-energy subsidiary, Wheelabrator Technologies, owns or operates 16 plants that can process up to an aggregate of 21,000 tons of waste per day and generate more than 650 megawatts of electricity. This is enough
clean energy to replace more than 6 million barrels of oil and power 600,000 homes per year.

The Green Team
Green Team LogoThe Green Team is a voluntary group comprised of the Company’s best drivers, operators, technicians and managers who have agreed to help the Company in providing continuing service following extraordinary events, including natural or national disasters.   

Maps