Date: November 22, 2006
Source: Waste Management Inc.
Waste Management Inc. has announced that eight of its landfill sites across Canada have received the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) International Accreditation. Three of the awarded sites were previously certified and have received re-certification status from WHC.
The accreditation recognizes commendable wildlife habitat management and environmental education programs at the individual sites. The awards were announced November 14 at the WHC's 18th Annual Symposium in Baltimore, Maryland.
"We are extremely proud of the positive difference we are making in communities across Canada," says Waste Management's vice president of environment Greg Cekander. "As the industry leader in waste and environmental services, we are strongly committed to being responsible stewards of the environment. Landfill management practices that work in harmony with nature are one of the hallmarks of Waste Management's environmental leadership."
Waste Management landfill sites in Canada that received certification status include:
• Ottawa (Ontario) features owl nesting platforms and nesting tubes for mallard ducks.
• Richmond (Ontario) focuses on avian conservation, particularly of wood ducks and bluebirds. Will eventually incorporate recycled materials into the building of boardwalks and benches.
• Ste. Sophie (Quebec) features over 200 planted spruce trees and well-loved horse trails.
• Magog (Quebec) incorporates a beaver habitat restoration project in the heavily forested area.
• Saint Nicephore (Quebec) contains exclusively native planted species of white spruce, jack pine and sugar maple trees to offsets their endangerment in the region.
Waste Management landfill sites in Canada that received re-certification status include:
• Blackwell (Sarnia, Ontario) incorporates parkland and wetland communities into the naturalization of the property.
• Petrolia (Ontario) contains an ecosystem for wildlife habitat, providing nesting and grazing for birds and several wildlife species.
• Warwick (Watford, Ontario) contains thousands of planted poplar trees to create an ecosystem for insects, birds and mammals.
The WHC's International Accreditation Program recognizes commendable wildlife habitat management and environmental education programs at individual sites. Certification criteria are stringent and sites must demonstrate that programs have been active for at least one year with a management plan that lists goals, objectives and prescriptions and complete documentation of all programs.
WHC certification adds value to programs by providing third-party credibility and an objective evaluation of projects. Waste Management's landfill sites are the only WHC certified sites in Canada. Waste Management has 24 landfills across North America which are WHC certified and 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.
About the Wildlife Habitat Council
The Wildlife Habitat Council is a nonprofit, 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.
Visit WHC online at www.wildlifehc.org
About Waste Management of Canada
As Canada's leading provider of comprehensive waste management services, Waste Management offers advanced residential, commercial and industrial collection, recycling and disposal services throughout Canada. Waste Management of Canada employs more than 3,400 people at 116 locations in eight provinces, servicing 4.5 million residential customers and 170,000 industrial and commercial customers. The Company owns and/or operates 20 recycling recovery facilities and 18 landfills.
Visit Waste Management Canada online at www.wm.com
For more information contact:
Vanessa Kaufman, Wildlife Habitat Council, 301-588-8994.
Wes Muir, Waste Management, 905-483-3099.
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