Waste Management Stocks To Research – November 21st – MarketBeat

Analysis of Key Waste Management Companies and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Waste Management Sector’s Role in Advancing the SDGs

The waste management sector provides essential environmental services that are fundamental to achieving global sustainability targets. Companies within this industry are integral to the progress of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by managing municipal, commercial, and industrial waste. Their operations directly impact the creation of sustainable urban environments, the promotion of circular economies, and the mitigation of climate change. This report analyzes three prominent companies—Waste Management, Inc., GFL Environmental Inc., and Custom Truck One Source, Inc.—and their alignment with key SDGs.

The sector’s contributions are particularly relevant to the following goals:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By ensuring the proper collection and disposal of waste, these companies help create clean, safe, and resilient urban areas.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Through recycling and material recovery, the sector promotes sustainable consumption patterns and the development of a circular economy.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Waste-to-energy technologies, such as the conversion of landfill gas, contribute to the supply of renewable energy.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Effective waste management, especially the capture of landfill gases, reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Company Profiles and SDG Alignment

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)

Waste Management, Inc. is a leading provider of environmental solutions in the United States and Canada. Its operations are central to building a sustainable infrastructure.

Core Services:

• Waste and recyclable material collection and transportation.
• Operation of transfer stations and material recovery facilities (MRFs).
• Development and operation of landfill facilities.
• Production of renewable natural gas from landfill gas.

Contribution to SDGs:

• SDG 11 and SDG 12: The company’s core collection and recycling services directly support the goals of creating sustainable cities and fostering responsible consumption and production by managing waste streams and recovering valuable materials.
• SDG 7 and SDG 13: By converting landfill gas into a renewable energy source, WM actively contributes to affordable and clean energy while taking climate action by mitigating methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL)

GFL Environmental Inc. offers a comprehensive suite of environmental services in Canada and the United States, addressing various forms of waste and contamination.

Core Services:

• Non-hazardous solid waste management, including collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal.
• Liquid waste management.
• Soil remediation services.

Contribution to SDGs:

• SDG 11 and SDG 12: GFL’s solid waste management operations are crucial for maintaining clean communities and advancing circular economy principles through recycling and responsible disposal.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The company’s specialized liquid waste management and soil remediation services are vital for preventing contamination of water sources and land, directly supporting the goal of ensuring clean water and sanitation for all.

Custom Truck One Source, Inc. (CTOS)

Custom Truck One Source, Inc. provides essential equipment that underpins the infrastructure of the waste management sector and other related industries.

Core Services:

• Rental and sale of specialty equipment.
• Services for industries including waste management, electric utility, telecommunications, and forestry.
• Aftermarket parts and services.

Contribution to SDGs:

• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): By supplying the specialized machinery required for waste collection, transport, and processing, CTOS is an enabling force for building the resilient infrastructure necessary to achieve sustainable waste management systems.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The company supports economic productivity and job creation within the critical infrastructure and environmental services sectors.

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. operates landfill facilities that “produce landfill gas used as renewable natural gas for generating electricity.” This directly connects to the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The companies described provide essential services for cities, including the collection and management of “municipal, commercial and industrial waste.” These services are fundamental to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The core business of the featured companies involves waste management, including services to “collect, transport, process, recycle and dispose” of waste. This aligns with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by managing waste in an environmentally sound manner.

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 article’s reference to “waste-to-energy technologies” and the specific example of Waste Management, Inc. using landfill gas to generate “renewable natural gas for generating electricity” directly contributes to this target.
• 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 services provided by all three companies, which focus on collecting, processing, and disposing of municipal and commercial waste, are central to achieving this target.
• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article highlights recycling as a key activity, mentioning “recyclable materials,” “material recovery facility (MRF),” and the “adoption of recycling” technologies. These activities are direct measures to meet this target.

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

• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption. While the article does not provide specific data, it implies this indicator by mentioning the generation of electricity from “renewable natural gas” derived from landfill gas. The amount of energy produced this way would be a measure of progress.
• Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities. The article describes companies that “collect, transport, process, recycle and dispose of municipal, commercial and industrial waste,” operating facilities like “transfer station, material recovery facility (MRF), or disposal site.” The volume of waste handled by these companies serves as an implicit measure for this indicator.
• Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled. The article’s focus on recycling services, “material recovery facility (MRF),” and “commodity prices for recyclables” implies that the amount of material processed for recycling is a key metric for these companies and for measuring progress toward Target 12.5.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: marketbeat.com