UN SDGs
How We Support the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 to provide targets and indicators for broad global sustainability achievements. WM has been contributing to each of these goals since, and in 2020 we refined our approach by aligning our 2025 and 2038 goals with eight of the SDGs. We are committed to action that provides the greatest contributions locally to affect positive change globally. More information about these goals, including associated targets and indicators, is available on the United Nations website.
Click an SDG to view our progress, aligned goals and target.
Our Progress
WM leverages both technology and training to keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe in our communities. We honored employees for safe and effective work through the WM Driver, Operator and Technician of the Year Program and used video event recorders alert drivers to unsafe behavior. We also went the extra mile to keep our people safe throughout the pandemic and regularly disclose our safety metrics. We continue to make progress on our fleet emissions, transitioning to a near-zero emissions fleet. Use of renewable natural gas (RNG) reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) and nitrogen oxide emissions by over 90%.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- 50% of WM’s compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to run on renewable natural gas (RNG)
- 70% of collection fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
Target
- 3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
- 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination
Our Progress
WM continues to use landfill gas to generate electricity that is sold to public utilities, municipal utilities and power cooperatives, and convert it into renewable natural gas for use in vehicles. Our newest landfill gas-to-energy facility began operating at our Skyline Landfill in early 2020, and we have 10 to 20 additional projects in development across the U.S. and Canada.
WM also produces energy from a readily available, renewable source: decomposing organic waste. We support three ultra-low-carbon-intensity dairy projects, where methane gas is captured from dairy operations to fuel our fleet.
Beyond turning waste into energy, WM is working with our vendors to purchase 100% renewable electricity to power our facilities by 2025. We support the adoption of renewable energy by others by hosting solar power installations at closed landfills.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- 50% of WM’s CNG trucks to run on RNG
- 70% of collection fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
Target
- 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- 7.A By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology
Our Progress
We are committed to paying all employees a living wage and guaranteed 40 hours of work for frontline workers during the pandemic. Through the Innovative Employment Pathways program, we are providing second-chance employment opportunities to overlooked and underserved community populations. In 2020, we increased use of WM Now, an employee mobile app through which people can access employee benefits, safety updates, company news, and more.
We regularly disclose key metrics on diversity, equity and inclusion; freedom of association and collective bargaining; safety; carbon intensity; scope 3 emissions; water use and waste.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- 100% of WM employees paid a living wage
- Achieve ethnic and racial diversity in each segment of our workforce, with an emphasis on leadership, that is greater than or equal to the estimated availability of minority talent in the marketplace
- Lead the industry in female representation at all levels, with a special emphasis on frontline and women in leadership
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
- Make the communities where we live and work safe, resilient and sustainable
Target
- 8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10‑Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead
- 8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
Our Progress
WM’s newest landfill gas-to-energy facility began operating at our Skyline Landfill in early 2020, and we have 10 to 20 additional projects in development across the U.S. and Canada. We also now support three ultra-low-carbon-intensity dairy projects, where methane gas is captured from dairy operations to fuel our fleet. WM operates 145 natural gas fueling stations across North America, with 25 of these also open to the public. Our goal to use 100% renewable electricity will support renewable energy and related infrastructure. We have invested $100 million per year for the last three years in new and upgraded recycling infrastructure.
Technologies like Smart Truck will decrease recycling contamination, allowing us to recycle more effectively. We will continue to report our carbon intensity metrics as we make progress.
Our supply chain team aims to increase its annual spend on sustainability-related products and services by 10% annually and has developed a Sustainable Supplier Partnership Playbook to direct conversations with suppliers.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- 70% of WM’s fleet will run on CNG
- 50% of WM’s CNG trucks to run on RNG
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
- Reduce inbound recycling contamination at our MRFs to less than 10%
- Develop fugitive emissions measurement systems
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
Target
- 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
Our Progress
WM is making strides to hire women and employees from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, with an emphasis on hiring these individuals into leadership roles. We have pledged to provide a living wage to all employees and are on track to achieve this goal ahead of our 2025 commitment.
WM has reached out to many national and community-based organizations to proactively share opportunities with diverse populations. WM is also promoting supplier diversity, aiming for 10% year-over-year growth in annual spend with diverse suppliers.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- A living wage assured for all employees
2030
- Achieve ethnic and racial diversity in each segment of our workforce, with an emphasis on leadership, that is greater than or equal to the estimated availability of minority talent in the marketplace
- Lead the industry in female representation at all levels, with a special emphasis on frontline and women in leadership
2038
- Make the communities where we live and work safe, resilient and sustainable
Target
- 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
- 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
Our Progress
We have partnered with a half-dozen organizations, including NASA, to measure fugitive emissions released from landfills. WM is also working to develop an enterprise-wide program focused on environmental justice. 2020 brought the most active hurricane season on record and the most destructive year for wildfires in history, and WM’s emergency response services helped communities recover from these events.
WM is committed to the circular economy, promoting the need for manufacturers to use post-consumer content in their products and for governments, industries and individuals to buy products made with post-consumer content.
WM’s GHG emission reduction goals, increased use of renewable energy and generation of electricity and fuel from landfill gas reduce the environmental impact of cities and communities.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- Develop fugitive emissions measurement systems
- 70% of WM’s fleet will run on CNG
- 50% of WM’s CNG trucks to run on RNG
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
- Make the communities where we live and work safe, resilient and sustainable
Target
- 11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
- 11.B By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Our Progress
WM’s business is to allow resources to be used more responsibly—and we continue to encourage people to reduce waste and dispose of materials properly in their daily lives. In 2020, we managed over 15 million tons of recyclable materials maintain a suite of programs designed for safe disposal of hard-to handle materials, and provide advisory services on waste reduction. Consumer education efforts through our Recycle Right program helped reduce contamination levels at our single-stream facilities to 16% in 2020. Our supply chain team works to procure responsibly and sustainably made products. Each year, we disclose our waste generation, water use and carbon footprint.
Through WM’s Environmental Education and Environmental Conservation programs, we hosted hundreds of events in 2020. We donated more than 3 million meals to people in need and donated 12.7 million tons of food from the WM Phoenix Open.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- Develop fugitive emissions measurements systems
- 70% of WM’s fleet to run on CNG
- 50% of WM’s CNG trucks to run on RNG
- Inbound recycling contamination reduced to less than 10%
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
- Make the communities where we live and work safe, resilient and sustainable
Target
- 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
- 12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
- 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
- 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
- 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
- 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
- 12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
Our Progress
Climate change poses many risks to our business and affects our customers, whom we are increasingly helping prepare for and respond to natural disasters. Our environmental education and conservation programs help inform the public about ways they can make a positive contribution.
WM provides low carbon products and services, continues to increase use of RNG in our fleet and supports three ultra-low-carbon-intensity dairy projects, where methane gas is captured from dairy operations to fuel our fleet.
Where possible, we help prevent food from being wasted and instead allow for its redistribution, which keeps this valuable material out of the landfill. For other organic material, we continue to invest in new or expanded programs to handle at end of life via composting, grinding and mulching, and our proprietary organics recycling process known as CORe®.
WM-Aligned Goals
2025
- Develop fugitive emissions measurement systems
- 70% of WM’s fleet will run on CNG
- 50% of WM’s CNG trucks to run on RNG
- 100% renewable energy at WM-controlled sites
2038
- Avoid 4 times the GHG emissions generated by our operations
- Make the communities where we live and work safe, resilient and sustainable
Target
- 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
- 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning