Safe Communities
When Waste Management drivers are on their routes, they become the trusted eyes and ears on the streets. For more than a decade, our Waste Watch® community program has trained thousands of drivers to recognize and handle situations that don’t seem right. Program participants learn to properly observe and report suspicious activities and emergencies to local public safety and law enforcement agencies.
To become a Waste Watch-certified driver, an employee must complete a formal training program, including instruction from Waste Management corporate security and local law enforcement personnel, and pass a written exam. The program is available in more than half of the U.S. communities we serve. The Waste Watch program has received national acclaim, earning recognition from local municipalities and the National Sheriffs’ Association’s Award of Excellence in Neighborhood Watch. Our drivers have been lauded for reporting suspicious activity ranging from thefts to vandalism.
Recent Waste Watch heroes include a Florida residential driver Juan Fernandez, who found an elderly woman unresponsive by her front door while servicing his route. Based on his Waste Watch training, Juan immediately called 911 and waited for emergency crews to arrive. He stayed until the woman was treated and responsive. Roger Millen, a Utah-based driver, spotted a two-year-old child wandering a neighborhood on his route. He stopped his truck, picked up the boy and went door-to-door to find his home. A neighbor opened the door and identified their neighbor’s child—leading to a happy ending, thanks to Roger’s quick action.
In addition to Waste Watch, we partner with safety-related organizations and programs, including AMBER Alert, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Community Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
