Press Release

Simi Valley, July 2, 2009 - Waste Management (WM) today is pleased to announce that last week WM staff from throughout the West participated in the Cate School’s Sustainable Systems Institute Program for Environmental Science teachers.

Cate School, a residential high school located in the coastal mountains of Santa Barbara County, hosted the weeklong event for teachers from California and Washington - as well as from far away as Georgia - who wanted to gain a greater understanding of key topics covered in the Environmental Science Curricula, including solid waste management.

“These Environmental Science teachers are not just instructors - they’re also environmental advocates. We felt this was a great way for WM to give back to the community through the classroom and get the students excited about environmental science,” said Lisa Hemenway, Community Relations Manager for Waste Management of Ventura County.

The first part of the morning was a classroom-style instruction of various environmental topics, including solid waste management, landfill operations and design, green house gas, fleet compliance, renewable energy and new technologies.

The second half of the day was spent at the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center (SVLRC) for an onsite landfill tour of green energy programs, greenwaste recycling and construction and demolition diversion facilities. Additionally, teachers got a close up look at a new WM Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vehicle.

"The quality of the educational program presented by WM's staff was remarkable. Their thoughtful presentations, their willingness to answer tough questions, and the wide array of classroom resources they distributed will certainly enhance the teachers' coverage of municipal solid waste in their classrooms. It was evident WM's crew hit a home run,” said Jim Masker, Director of the Sustainable Systems Institute.

WM environmental experts led the sessions, including an environmental protection specialist, a registered chemical engineer, an environmental health and safety manager, a landfill district manager and a community relation’s manager.

In celebration of National Pollinator Week, the group ended the day by taking a nature hike at the SVLRC’s new Pollinator Garden.

“The teachers were able to visualize the importance of sustainable programs that WM provides to residents and the business communities across the nation,” said Hemenway.

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.