Menominee Landfill Recognized

The Wildlife Habitat Council has presented Waste Management’s Menominee Landfill with its “Wildlife at Work” re-certification. The Menominee Landfill is one of Waste Management’s 128 WHC certified programs at 110 sites company-wide.

“WHC believes that collaboration among all stakeholder groups is critical

to addressing the complex issues facing the sustainability of the planet,”

said Robert Johnson, WHC president. “WHC members take a leading role in connecting community stakeholders through wildlife habitat enhancement, community outreach and conservation education. Congratulations to Waste Management for their commitment to a healthy natural world and connected communities.”

The Menominee Landfill site contains diverse habitat types including

grasslands, forests, wetlands and ponds. The facility’s Elmwood Wildlife

Observation Area has hosted school groups, scouts, birdwatchers and other local groups, and a nature trail was established to further improve

wildlife observation opportunities. The Chappee Rapids Audubon Society

conducts bird surveys, and has identified over 100 species of birds at the

site.

To improve fishing in the area and increase fish diversity, Menominee

Landfill has worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to

raise walleyes in a six-acre sedimentation pond on-site; to date, more

than one million walleyes have been reared at this pond and stocked in

Michigan rivers and lakes. The walleye project will resume at the

Menominee Landfill in 2012.

“The help and engagement of our local volunteer groups made this project

possible,” said Scot Gerarden, district manager for Waste Management. “To see WM employees working side by side with our neighbors and customers to improve the environment brings a real sense of community for everyone. I’m truly proud of all have accomplished here.”

This year’s certifications also helped Waste Management meet and exceed

two of its company-wide sustainability goals well before the target year

of 2020. In 2007, Waste Management pledged to preserve and restore 25,000 acres of wildlife habitat across North America. The company achieved this goal in 2010 and now protects 26,000 acres of habitat. Waste Management also committed to have WHC certified programs at 100 or more of its facilities with WHC certifications. With the addition of this year’s certifications, the company has surpassed this goal.

“At Waste Management our conservation goals are aggressive but achievable. Look at what we’ve accomplished in just four years,” said President and CEO David Steiner. “The success of our WHC programs has driven us to work harder on developing long-term sustainability and conservation programs that provide a role of everyone in the community to pursue a common goal – making the planet a better place for future generations to enjoy.”