Press Release


WASTE MANAGEMENT JOINS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AS A NATIONAL PARTNER AND LOCALLY AT THE SIMI VALLEY BUILD

Simi Valley, CA, June 4, 2008 - Nationwide, Waste Management is proud to announce a $1 million partnership with Habitat for Humanity International to further Habitat's mission of building decent, affordable housing. Locally, Waste Management will be participating on June 7 in the Habitat build at the Simi Valley project, located at Royal Ave and Sequoia Ave in Simi Vallley.

To assist with the build, over 50 Waste Management employees and family will help with the construction of three single-family homes here in Simi Valley. Volunteers will be organized into teams and will be responsible for different aspects of the build, including roofing and drywall. In addition, WM has also arranged for a barbeque lunch for all volunteers, which will be served by the Simi Valley Y's Men from the YMCA.

"Many of our employees live and work in Ventura County and we know that affordable housing in this area is hard to find," said Mike Smith, WM's Market Area General Manager. "Waste Management is proud to be a community partner with Habitat to ensure that home ownership becomes a reality for deserving local residents."

In addition to the WM employees and volunteers that will turn out for the Simi build, WM donated large roll-off containers for the site and, to date, has collected over 36 tons of materials from the site, which were brought to the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. This year, WM opened the Construction and Demolition Recycling Facility at the landfill where the construction waste, such as aluminum, asphalt, concrete, plastic, rebar, steel and wood, can be recycled to help reduce the environmental impact of the construction process.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is the oldest Habitat affiliate in California and has helped build more than 40 homes in Oak View, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Piru and Oxnard. Homes are built for deserving families through the help of volunteers who provide labor and through individuals and organizations who donate additional services and funding. In addition, the selected family members themselves must contribute 500 hours, of "sweat equity" to the build.

Waste Management provides Ventura County with recycling, trash hauling and solid waste disposal through G.I. Industries and the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Waste Management has owned and operated G.I. Industries since 1998 and the SVLRC site since 1983 and employs more than 230 people in Ventura County. The SVLRC provides approximately 60% of Ventura County's daily refuse disposal needs. The company operates a "green power" program at the site that generates enough power for 2,500 homes, and clean-burning LNG powers 38 of its trucks. Waste Management is a significant contributor to area community groups. For more information visit our website www.keepingventuracountyclean.com.
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