Waste Management Stocks To Research – October 24th – MarketBeat

Report on Waste Management Sector’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Overview of the Sector’s Role in Sustainability

• The waste management industry is integral to achieving several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Core operations directly support SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by managing municipal waste and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting recycling and waste reduction.
• Innovations in the sector, such as waste-to-energy initiatives, contribute to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Proper disposal and remediation services are crucial for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Analysis of Key Companies in the Waste Management Sector

1. Waste Management, Inc. (WM)

   • Core Services: Provides comprehensive environmental solutions, including waste and recyclable material collection, operation of transfer stations, material recovery facilities (MRFs), and landfill management.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 11 & 12: Manages municipal and industrial waste streams and processes recyclable materials at MRFs, fostering circular economy principles.
     • SDG 7 & 13: Develops and operates landfill facilities that capture landfill gas, a potent greenhouse gas, and convert it into renewable natural gas and electricity.

2. GFL Environmental Inc. (GFL)

   • Core Services: Offers non-hazardous solid waste management, liquid waste management, and soil remediation services to a diverse customer base.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 11 & 12: Provides essential collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal services that are fundamental to sustainable urban living and responsible production cycles.
     • SDG 6: Through its liquid waste management and soil remediation services, it helps prevent contamination of water sources and restores polluted land.

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

   • Core Services: Supplies specialty equipment required for infrastructure-related industries, including the waste management sector.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 9: Acts as a key enabler of resilient infrastructure by providing the necessary equipment for waste collection, transport, and processing.
     • SDG 11 & 12: Indirectly supports the achievement of sustainable waste management by equipping the companies that perform these critical services.

4. Avalon Holdings Corporation (AWX)

   • Core Services: Specializes in waste management services for industrial, commercial, and governmental clients, including hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal and landfill management.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 12: Ensures the environmentally sound management of hazardous and other wastes throughout their life cycle, a key target of this goal.
     • SDG 3 & 6: Mitigates risks to human health and the environment by providing secure disposal and management services for potentially harmful materials.

5. Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. (BBCP)

   • Core Services: Provides industrial cleanup and containment services through its Eco-Pan brand, primarily for the construction industry.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 9 & 11: Contributes to sustainable industrial and urban development by offering solutions that contain and manage waste generated during construction.
     • SDG 12: Promotes responsible production practices by preventing the release of construction waste into the environment.

6. LanzaTech Global (LNZAW)

   • Core Services: Focuses on carbon recycling technology, converting waste carbon and pollution into sustainable fuels and chemicals.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 9 & 12: Embodies industrial innovation and circular economy principles by transforming waste streams into valuable products.
     • SDG 13: Directly addresses climate change by capturing carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
     • SDG 7: Contributes to the development of sustainable fuels, supporting the transition to cleaner energy sources.

7. ESGL Holdings Limited (ESGLW)

   • Core Services: Specializes in regenerating industrial waste into circular products through the use of advanced technologies and renewable energy.
   • SDG Contributions:
     • SDG 12: Directly advances the goal of responsible consumption and production by creating a closed-loop system for industrial materials.
     • SDG 9: Utilizes innovative technology to upgrade industrial processes and infrastructure for greater sustainability.
     • SDG 7: Integrates renewable energy into its operations, further reducing the environmental footprint of its waste regeneration process.

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 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The companies described provide essential, specialized infrastructure for waste management. Custom Truck One Source serves “infrastructure-related industries,” and ESGL Holdings uses “technologies and renewable energy” to regenerate waste, highlighting the innovation aspect of this goal.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The core business of the companies listed is the collection, transport, and disposal of “municipal, industrial and hazardous waste.” This service is fundamental to managing the environmental impact of cities and communities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article details services like recycling, management of hazardous waste, and creating “circular products” from industrial waste (ESGL Holdings). These activities are central to achieving sustainable management of waste and reducing its generation.

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

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article provides a specific example where Waste Management, Inc. converts landfill gas into “renewable natural gas for generating electricity.”

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes. The work of ESGL Holdings, which “regenerates industrial waste into circular products using technologies and renewable energy,” is a direct application of this target.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • 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 described for companies like Waste Management and GFL Environmental, such as “collection services,” “transporting waste,” and operating “disposal site[s]” for municipal customers, directly address this target.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle. The article mentions that Avalon Holdings provides “hazardous and nonhazardous waste disposal brokerage and management services,” which aligns with the goal of safely managing all forms of waste.
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The mention of collecting “recyclable materials,” operating a “material recovery facility (MRF),” and ESGL’s mission to create “circular products” all contribute to this target by diverting waste from landfills and promoting a circular economy.

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

1. Indicator for Target 7.2

   • Amount of renewable energy generated from waste: The article’s description of Waste Management, Inc. generating electricity from landfill gas implies a measurable output. Progress can be measured by the quantity of renewable natural gas or electricity produced by these facilities.

2. Indicator for Target 11.6

   • Volume of municipal waste collected and managed: The core operations of the companies involve collecting and managing waste. An implied indicator is the total volume or tonnage of municipal and industrial waste that is properly collected and processed in controlled facilities like transfer stations and landfills, rather than being disposed of improperly.

3. Indicator for Target 12.4

   • Quantity of hazardous waste safely managed: Avalon Holdings’ service of managing “hazardous and nonhazardous waste” implies that the volume of such waste being handled according to environmental regulations can be tracked as a measure of progress.

4. Indicator for Target 12.5

   • Proportion of waste recycled or reused: The mention of “recyclable materials,” “material recovery facility (MRF),” and the regeneration of waste into “circular products” suggests that a key performance indicator for these companies would be the percentage of total waste collected that is successfully recycled, reused, or repurposed, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfills.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: marketbeat.com