In 1968, Harm’s grandson Wayne Huizenga and two other investors, Dean Buntrock and Larry Beck, had a vision. They wanted to serve their community by properly managing the waste produced by a rapidly growing population consuming more and more products built for convenience. In the 1970s, Americans started to embrace a more environmentally friendly mindset. WM was already responsibly disposing of waste, and we expanded our commitment to the environment by beginning to address complex specialized waste. By 1982, WM was the world’s largest waste disposal company, driving the industry toward sustainable waste management practices. We were one of the first truly integrated waste companies, not only collecting waste but responsibly managing the landfills it ends up in. And we were also one of the first to recognize the burgeoning recycling movement, building robust collection, materials recovery and materials marketing infrastructures to ensure that more of our waste finds a second life. The story of WM is always evolving. Innovative recycling technologies, renewable energy breakthroughs and strengthened communities are some of the chapters we’ve written, and they’re only the beginning.
