Best Waste Management Stocks To Watch Now – November 17th – MarketBeat

Report on Waste Management Sector’s Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Role of Waste Management in Global Sustainability

The waste management sector is integral to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By managing municipal, commercial, and industrial waste streams, companies in this industry directly contribute to the environmental health of cities, the promotion of circular economies, and the development of clean energy. This report analyzes seven companies within the sector, highlighting their operational alignment with key SDGs, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Corporate Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Waste Management, Inc. (WM)

   • Contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing essential waste collection and disposal services that are fundamental to urban sanitation and environmental management.
   • Supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through its operation of material recovery facilities (MRFs), which are critical infrastructure for recycling and reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills.
   • Advances SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by converting landfill gas, a byproduct of waste decomposition, into renewable natural gas and electricity, thereby mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and creating a clean energy source.

2. GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL)

   • Addresses SDG 11.6 (Reduce the environmental impact of cities) by offering a comprehensive suite of services including solid waste management, liquid waste management, and soil remediation across North America.
   • Promotes SDG 12.5 (Substantially reduce waste generation) by providing integrated recycling and disposal services for municipal, residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

3. Custom Truck One Source, Inc. (CTOS)

   • Underpins SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by supplying the specialized equipment required by the waste management and other infrastructure-related industries. This support enables the development and maintenance of resilient infrastructure necessary for sustainable environmental services.

4. Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. (BBCP)

   • Directly contributes to SDG 12.4 (Environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes) through its Eco-Pan brand, which offers industrial cleanup and containment services that prevent pollution from construction sites.

5. Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX)

   • Focuses on services crucial for SDG 12.4 by providing hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal brokerage and management. These services ensure that waste from industrial, commercial, and governmental clients is handled in an environmentally responsible manner.

6. LanzaTech Global (LNZAW)

   • Champions the principles of a circular economy in line with SDG 12. The company’s focus on carbon recycling technologies transforms industrial waste gases into valuable products, reducing pollution and creating sustainable production pathways.

7. ESGL Holdings Limited (ESGLW)

   • Directly supports SDG 12 by employing advanced technologies to regenerate industrial waste into circular products, minimizing final disposal and promoting resource efficiency.
   • Aligns with SDG 7 by utilizing renewable energy within its waste regeneration processes, contributing to a cleaner industrial production model.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article mentions that Waste Management, Inc. “owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.” This directly connects the company’s operations to the generation of clean and renewable energy.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The waste management sector described is a crucial part of sustainable infrastructure. Companies like Custom Truck One Source provide equipment to “infrastructure-related industries,” and ESGL Holdings uses “technologies” to regenerate industrial waste, highlighting innovation in the sector.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article repeatedly states that the companies provide waste management services to “municipal, residential, and commercial” customers. This is a core service for maintaining the environmental quality and sustainability of cities and human settlements.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The companies’ primary business is the management of waste through services that “collect, transport, treat, recycle and dispose of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste.” ESGL’s mission to regenerate “industrial waste into circular products” is a direct example of promoting circular economies and sustainable production patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

  The description of Waste Management, Inc. generating electricity from landfill gas is a direct contribution to this target by converting a waste byproduct into a renewable energy source.

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable…

  The services provided by the companies, especially ESGL’s use of “technologies” to create “circular products” from industrial waste, represent an effort to retrofit industrial processes for greater sustainability and resource efficiency.

• 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.

  The core business of all the waste management companies listed, such as Waste Management, Inc. and GFL Environmental, is to provide “non-hazardous solid waste management” and “environmental solutions” to municipal customers, directly addressing this target.

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

  The article mentions services including “recycling” and operating “material recovery facility (MRF).” Furthermore, ESGL’s process of regenerating “industrial waste into circular products” is a clear example of reuse and moving towards a circular economy, which aligns with reducing overall waste generation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 7.2:

  The amount of renewable energy generated from waste. The article’s mention of producing “renewable natural gas for generating electricity” implies that the quantity of electricity produced (e.g., in MWh) could be a measurable indicator.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.6:

  The total volume of municipal waste collected and managed in an environmentally sound manner. While the article does not provide figures, the business operations of companies like Waste Management and GFL Environmental are based on the volume of waste they handle for municipalities, which serves as a proxy indicator for progress.

• Implied Indicators for Target 12.5:

  The volume of materials recycled and the amount of waste regenerated into new products. The reference to “recyclable materials,” “material recovery facility (MRF),” and ESGL’s creation of “circular products” from waste implies that the tonnage of materials diverted from landfills and reprocessed would be a key performance indicator.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: marketbeat.com