The Next Big Wall Street Stock? It’s Trash. | WSJ The Economics Of

WM, North America’s largest landfill operator, has benefitted from tax credits and other incentives from the federal government and an increased demand for recycled materials for packaging. WM launched a multi-billion dollar plan in 2022 to expand its renewable natural gas plants, automated recycling facilities and smart trucks, with investments in technology.

WSJ explains how the company that has probably dealt with your trash hopes to become more efficient and profitable while making strides in sustainability.

Chapters:
0:00 WM’s success
0:42 Waste-to-energy plants
2:40 AI in recycling plants
5:21 Smart trucks

The Economics Of
How do the world's most successful companies generate revenue? In this explainer series, we'll dive into the surprising stories behind how businesses work--exploring everything from Costco's "treasure-hunt" model to the economics behind Amazon's AWS.

#Trash #Investing #WSJ

[ahoog]

While I am glad to see a company like Waste Management incorporating Artificial Intelligence and technology into their workflow to reduce waste and increase the capture of recyclable materials, this entire process needs to start much sooner with how things are packaged to begin with. I do my best to separate true garbage from those items that can be recycled, but the way things are packaged makes it so difficult; labels stuck onto plastic and paper containers; mixed materials fused together. It’s really bad. Packaging designers and manufacturers really need to step up and completely reimagine what they are doing.

[VaibhavRungta-sz]

Love the smart truck tech. Have often seen boxes outside of the bins (thanks to EComm) and I think such behavior adds more work for the people who collect trash. I hope these smart trucks and WM instills better practices 🙂

[o-towncompost]

What they don't mention about the methane capture at landfills is that most of the organic waste produces methane in the first 6 months after it's been landfilled, before they install the technology. Also, the technology to capture the methane is notoriously riddled with inefficiencies. The EPA just published a report on it yesterday.

[piroskakapos]

I'm rooting for any kind of technology that may contribute to waste recycling 💯👍

[evernut]

It’s nice to see that WM is using the machines from Bollegraaf, mine daily job is to assembly conveyor belts for them in Netherlands.

[GlobalOneMedia]

Wow, major props to WM for stepping up their game! 🌱 It's awesome to see them not just managing landfills but diving into a whole new level of eco-friendly tech. The fact that they're snagging tax credits and federal perks to boost their renewable natural gas plants, smart trucks, and automated recycling? Big mood.

[fireprint_incinerator]

Congratulations on your new achievement,
Li from China, manufacturer of low-temperature magnetic waste thermal decomposition device

[tightlines]

In Australia we have 3x different garbage bins one for general waste one for recycling plastic and cardboard and one for green waste

[WELVAS.]

Most trash can be recycled and we need to demand our companies to use recycled materials in their products more. In some places there is a tax on those that continually contaminate what would be recyclable materials. Its a good way to get everyone to recycle and better reuse our resources. Those that recycle correctly don't pay any tax which is a good incentive.

[anonymous]

$500 million in profits from gas, then why do they need a $250 million tax break?

[mariusob]

An american does not understand that the consumer could already separate the waste, that would be too inconvenient for them.

Just increase your trash quality, then you will be more sustainable automatically

[stickynorth]

I wish North America would adopt the 7 colored bag system of Eskiltuna, Sweden that separates all waste into different bags for collecting... That would reduce landfilling astronomically...

[ChristopherTradeshow]

I've always been a fan of Waste Management

[TheTruth-yqjb]

Waste to energy makes 10x the energy as trying to capture methane and very little is left for the landfill

[SethMethCS]

What about a reuse bin where people can put broken stuff, old electronics, remnants from projects and donatable items so they can be rebuilt / repurposed / reclaimed instead of being crushed into a landfill?

Switch it out every 2 weeks for an empty bin.

[ifinksdereforiare]

This is the kind of strategic thinking more business need, reflecting long-term sustainable advantage. More individuals need to invest in ventures like this, with a profit and a strong social responsibility reason for existence.

[anthonyfn]

Would be nice to see them passing on some savings to their consumers not just profits to Wall Street.

[masverde]

Tax dollars paying this companies so they can be profitable…. And dumping fee just keep going higher…

[Netryon]

Some places 30 km away from the city have to be so abandoned that trash truck does not visit, because for it to be a valid action village should change it's status to a small city.

[xilefx]

none of this would be a problem if the packaging industry wouldn't have danced around and lobbied corrupt politicians for decades.