As the industry leader in waste and environmental services, WM is strongly committed to being responsible stewards of the environment. To date, 24 Waste Management landfills across North America provide more than 17,000 acres of protected lands for wetlands and wildlife habitats, which are carefully managed in partnership with conservationists, universities and environmental groups.

In 2006, the Waste Management Ottawa facility received international recognition for its contribution to wildlife habitat conservation at its landfill site. The award was presented at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 18th Annual Symposium, in Baltimore, Maryland. Two years later the facility was honored again and recertified. In addition to Waste Management’s other sites across Ontario and Quebec, WM is the only waste management company to receive WHC certification.

In operation since 1971, the Ottawa waste facility is situated in the mixedwood plains of Ontario and consists of 142 hectares of land. The landscape of the landfill features a surface water pond, two sediment ponds, wooded areas, a grassy berm and a sand pit.

The company’s wildlife team has applied barley straw to pond areas to remove algae and poplar trees have been planted on site. Owl nesting platforms and nesting tubes for mallard ducks were also installed.

The Wildlife Habitat Council is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. More than two million acres in 48 states, Puerto Rico and 16 other countries are managed for wildlife through WHC-assisted projects. For more information, visit WHC online at www.wildlifehc.org.