Top Waste Management Stocks To Consider – November 3rd – MarketBeat

Analysis of Waste Management Sector’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The waste management sector plays a critical role in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Companies operating within this industry provide essential services that directly support targets related to environmental protection, resource management, and sustainable infrastructure. By collecting, processing, recycling, and disposing of waste, these entities contribute significantly to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Furthermore, innovative approaches to waste, such as energy generation and circular product development, align with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). An analysis of key companies in this sector reveals their specific contributions to these global objectives.

Company Profiles and SDG Alignment

1. Waste Management, Inc.

   Waste Management, Inc. provides comprehensive environmental solutions that are fundamental to achieving several SDGs. Its operations directly support the development of sustainable urban environments and responsible resource management.

   • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The company’s core services of waste and recyclable material collection are essential for maintaining clean and healthy cities, directly addressing target 11.6 on reducing the environmental impact of urban areas.
   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Through its network of material recovery facilities (MRFs), the company facilitates recycling, a key component of target 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation.
   • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By capturing landfill gas to produce renewable natural gas and generate electricity, the company contributes to target 7.2, increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

2. GFL Environmental Inc.

   GFL Environmental Inc. offers a diverse range of environmental services across North America, focusing on solid waste, liquid waste, and soil remediation. These activities are integral to sustainable industrial and municipal operations.

   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The company’s management of non-hazardous solid waste through collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services promotes circular economy principles and waste reduction.
   • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Its liquid waste management and soil remediation services help prevent pollution of water bodies and land, contributing to the environmentally sound management of waste.
   • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): GFL provides essential infrastructure for waste management for municipal, residential, commercial, and industrial customers, supporting the sustainability of communities.

3. Custom Truck One Source, Inc.

   This company provides specialized equipment that serves as critical infrastructure for various industries, including waste management. Its role is that of an enabler, providing the necessary tools for other organizations to meet their sustainability targets.

   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By supplying essential equipment to the waste management sector, Custom Truck One Source supports the development of resilient and sustainable infrastructure required for effective environmental services.

4. Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc.

   While primarily focused on concrete services, the company’s Eco-Pan brand provides industrial cleanup and containment services, directly addressing waste management challenges within the construction industry.

   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The Eco-Pan service facilitates the responsible management of industrial waste from construction sites, preventing environmental contamination and promoting safer, cleaner production processes.
   • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Effective waste containment in construction contributes to reducing the overall environmental footprint of urban development projects.

5. Avalon Holdings Corporation

   Avalon Holdings Corporation specializes in waste management services for a broad range of clients, including industrial and governmental customers, with a focus on both hazardous and nonhazardous materials.

   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The company’s brokerage and management of hazardous waste is crucial for achieving target 12.4, which calls for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
   • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Proper disposal of hazardous materials protects communities from exposure to harmful substances.

6. LanzaTech Global

   LanzaTech Global is a technology-focused company that contributes to the circular economy by converting waste and pollution into valuable products, thereby addressing climate change and resource scarcity.

   • SDG 13 (Climate Action): The company’s technology captures and recycles carbon from industrial waste streams, preventing its release into the atmosphere and mitigating climate change.
   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): LanzaTech’s innovative approach represents a significant advancement in sustainable industrial processes and clean technology.
   • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By transforming waste into sustainable fuels, the company supports the transition to cleaner energy sources.

7. ESGL Holdings Limited

   ESGL Holdings Limited is centered on creating a circular economy by transforming industrial waste into new products through the use of advanced technologies and renewable energy.

   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The company’s entire business model is built on the principles of a circular economy, directly supporting the goal of reducing waste and promoting sustainable production patterns.
   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): ESGL utilizes innovative technologies to upgrade industrial infrastructure towards greater sustainability and resource efficiency.
   • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The integration of renewable energy into its waste regeneration processes further enhances its contribution to a sustainable energy future.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

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

1. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article’s central theme is waste management, which is a core component of SDG 12. It describes companies whose primary business is to “collect, transport, process, recycle and dispose of municipal, commercial, and industrial waste.” This directly relates to sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The mention of ESGL Holdings, which “regenerates industrial waste into circular products,” explicitly points to creating a circular economy, a key principle of responsible consumption and production.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The services described are essential for the functioning of modern cities. Companies like Waste Management, Inc. and GFL Environmental provide “environmental solutions to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers.” Effective waste management is crucial for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by reducing their adverse environmental impact.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article explicitly connects waste management to energy generation. It states that Waste Management, Inc. “owns, develops, and operates landfill facilities that produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.” This practice of converting waste into energy is a direct contribution to increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article highlights the infrastructure-intensive nature of the waste management industry, mentioning the need for “transfer stations, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site.” Furthermore, companies like Custom Truck One Source provide specialty equipment to “waste management, and other infrastructure-related industries.” The mention of ESGL Holdings using “technologies” to regenerate waste into products points toward industrial innovation for sustainability.

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

1. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • This target is directly addressed by the core activities of the companies mentioned. The article describes services that include processing and recycling waste materials. Waste Management, Inc. operates “material recovery facility (MRF),” and GFL Environmental offers “recycling” services. ESGL Holdings’ mission to “regenerate industrial waste into circular products” is a clear example of reuse and recycling at an industrial scale.
2. 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 companies listed are key players in achieving this target. Their services, such as the collection and disposal of “municipal, residential, and commercial, and industrial” waste, are fundamental to managing the environmental footprint of cities. Avalon Holdings Corporation’s provision of “hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal brokerage and management services” is particularly relevant to mitigating urban environmental hazards.
3. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article provides a specific example of this target in action. The description of Waste Management, Inc. states that its landfill facilities “produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.” This is a direct contribution to increasing the proportion of energy generated from renewable, non-fossil fuel sources.
4. Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • This target is relevant through the mention of specialized waste services. Avalon Holdings offers “hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal brokerage and management services,” and GFL Environmental provides “soil remediation services.” These activities are crucial for the environmentally sound management of waste and the cleanup of contamination, directly aligning with the goal of minimizing the release of pollutants.

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

1. Implied Indicator for Target 12.5: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled (related to Indicator 12.5.1).
   • The article’s mention of “recyclable materials” and “material recovery facility (MRF)” implies that the volume and proportion of waste that is successfully recycled are key metrics for these companies. The success of ESGL in “regenerating industrial waste” would be measured by the tonnage of waste diverted from landfills and converted into new products.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities (related to Indicator 11.6.1).
   • The entire article focuses on companies that provide professional waste management services to “municipal customers.” The scale and existence of these publicly traded companies suggest a high proportion of waste is being managed in controlled facilities (like landfills and MRFs) rather than being dumped indiscriminately. The scope of their operations serves as an indirect measure of progress for this indicator.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 7.2: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (related to Indicator 7.2.1).
   • The specific mention of Waste Management, Inc. “generating electricity” from “renewable natural gas” implies a measurable output. The amount of electricity (in kilowatt-hours or megawatts) generated from this waste-to-energy process would be a direct indicator of the contribution to the overall share of renewable energy.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: marketbeat.com