WM opens 12 recycling facilities in 2024

Houston-based waste and recycling company WM upgraded or built 12 recycling facilities and opened five WM-owned renewable natural gas (RNG) facilities, according to the company’s 2025 sustainability report released the week of July 14. The report covers sustainability performance for 2024.

The company says it is on track to invest more than $3 billion in strengthening its recycling and RNG infrastructure from 2022 through 2026.

“At WM, we are committed to leading the way through our sustainability growth strategy—expanding access to recycling and lower-emission energy sources,” says Tara Hemmer, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer for WM. “We are driving sustainability forward by providing innovative, circular solutions customers and communities need to help create a better future.”

Additionally, in 2024 WM recovered more than 16 million tons of materials for recycling, increasing its material recovery capacity by 545,000 tons or about 5 percent from 2023. The company processed 3.8 million tons of organics and converted 58.1 million MMBtu of landfill gas to energy for sale/use.

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WM worked to implement and advance its sustainability initiatives with customers and in 2024 became an official sustainability partner of Major League Baseball. Through this partnership, the company onboarded 15 individual baseball clubs, delivering strategic support for materials management programs in recovery, recycling and organics and offering related education for fans.

To meet its greenhouse gas emissions target, WM reports it is investing in landfill cover and capping systems and landfill gas capture and emissions measurement, as well as transitioning its fleet to run on lower-carbon fuels. In 2024, the company reduced its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 22 percent from a 2021 baseline, allocated RNG to 74 percent of its alternative fuel consumption and used 45 percent of captured landfill gas for beneficial use.

Finally, WM reports it achieved a 6 percent reduction in overall injuries among employees, provided $11.4 million in tuition coverage through its education benefit program and donated $27.6 million in charitable contributions in 2024.

The full sustainability report can be viewed on WM's website.