TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Waste
Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) ("Waste Connections" or the
"Company") today announced the release of its 2021 Sustainability
Report demonstrating progress towards all of its long-term,
aspirational sustainability targets, as well as an 8% reduction in
operational greenhouse gas emissions. The updated report also
provides expanded disclosure illustrating the Company's commitment
to environmental stewardship, the health, welfare and development
of its employees, and the support of its local communities.
"We are proud of our efforts in 2020, which resulted in
considerable progress towards our sustainability objectives.
The strong environmental, social and governance-related foundation
we have established allowed us to show year-over-year improvement
in all seven of our ESG targets in 2020," said Worthing F.
Jackman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Moreover, we are
well-positioned for the achievement of our targets as we continue
to invest in technologies and innovations that advance these
priorities and drive value creation for our stakeholders."
Highlights of the 2021 Sustainability Report include:
- Reduction of Emissions and Improved Net Negative Carbon
Footprint: Internally generated offsets from our services
exceeded our Scope 1 and 2 emissions resulting in the avoidance of
over 3.2 times the emissions generated from our operations in 2020,
an improvement from prior year levels, primarily due to an 8%
year-over-year reduction in operational greenhouse gas
emissions.
- Increased Biogas Recovery: An increase of 1.9 billion
standard cubic feet in beneficially used landfill gas, plus
progress towards development of additional renewable natural gas
(RNG) facilities.
- Increased Resources Recovered: A 5% increase in recycled
tons processed, plus continued investment in recycling, including
the introduction of robotics at seven facilities and progress
towards development of greenfield recycling facilities.
- Increased On-Site Leachate Treatment: A 13%
increase in on-site leachate treatment to 37.6% of total leachate
generation, with additional internal capacity under
construction.
- Improved Safety and Employee Engagement: A 12%
reduction in overall safety incidents, with over 60% of operating
locations either posting zero incidents or driving year-over-year
improvements; an 18% reduction in voluntary turnover; and
continuous improvement in employee engagement as measured by score
improvement on our annual Servant Leadership survey.
- $40 Million in
COVID-19-Related Employee and Community Support: Continued
employee support in 2021 bringing total outlays since onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic to over $40
million, primarily directed to discretionary supplemental
pay for frontline employees, along with an increased minimum wage
target of $15/hour in 2020, and
expanded benefits. Elevated levels of community support
persist through charitable contributions to assist food banks,
families at risk, and organizations with a focus on addressing
racial inequities at the local and national level.
The Waste Connections 2021 Sustainability Report is available at
www.wasteconnections.com/sustainability.
About Waste Connections
Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company
that provides non-hazardous waste collection, transfer and disposal
services, along with resource recovery primarily through recycling
and renewable fuels generation. The Company serves more than
eight million residential, commercial and industrial customers in
mostly exclusive and secondary markets across 44 states in the U.S.
and six provinces in Canada. Waste Connections also provides
non-hazardous oilfield waste treatment, recovery and disposal
services in several basins across the U.S., as well as intermodal
services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in
the Pacific Northwest. For more information, visit Waste
Connections at www.wasteconnections.com/.
Safe Harbor and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PSLRA"), including
"forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are
neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance and
reflect Waste Connections' current beliefs and expectations
regarding future events and operating performance. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects,"
"intends," "may," "might," "will," "could," "should" or
"anticipates," or the negative thereof or comparable terminology,
or by discussions of strategy. All of the forward-looking
statements included in this press release are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and applicable Canadian
securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release
include, but are not limited to, statements about the timing and
amount of investments and the ability to meet or exceed long-term,
aspirational sustainability targets. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, risk
factors detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with
the SEC and the securities commissions or similar regulatory
authorities in Canada. You should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this press release. Waste Connections
undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements
set forth in this press release, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by
applicable securities laws.
CONTACT:
|
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Mary Anne Whitney /
(832) 442-2253
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Joe Box / (832)
442-2153
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maryannew@wasteconnections.com
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joe.box@wasteconnections.com
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SOURCE Waste Connections, Inc.