At Climate Week NYC, Mark Pellerin, the global head of our Energy and Natural Resources Practice, interviews Tara Hemmer, WM’s chief sustainability officer. They discuss what is required to fast-track and scale circularity and recycling, how WM is delivering profitability and sustainability, and what it takes to be a leader in a sustainability-focused business.

Interested in a particular topic? Skip to the following sections:

0:20 – Circularity and the role WM is playing

1:59 – Processing different recycling streams

3:45 – How to speed and scale circularity  

4:52 – The role of customers in recycling

5:59 – What’s required to lead a sustainability driven business

Mark Pellerin

We're at Climate Week NYC and I have the privilege to be here with my friend Tara Hemmer, Chief Sustainability Officer at WM.

Tara Hemmer

Thank you so much for having me, Mark. Pleasure to be here.

Mark

Of course, of course. And, we're excited to talk a little bit about circularity — given the opportunities that circularity presents. A recent report suggests that circularity here in the Americas, potentially will reduce carbon emissions by 16%.

And done right, it will create new economic value, as much as $1.5 trillion. Sustainability is a core part of your business, Tara. Help us understand some of the great things that you're doing today.

Tara

Well, on the circularity front, a lot of people don't know this about WM, but we are North America's largest recycler, especially in the residential space.

And so we recycle over 15 million tons of material every year. And a big piece of that comes from our recycling facilities — so, we're investing in over 40 recycling facilities across North America to automate them. And when we do that, we're going to create cleaner material, and when we create that cleaner material, it can be moved back into the circular economy.

So some of the things that we're most proud of is in our traditional recycling facilities, when you put a plastic water bottle in your recycling bin that might get converted to a new piece of apparel, a shirt, or it could go into carpet. Those laundry detergent bottles, they get converted into drainage pipe that could be built in a new community, near you.

So bringing to life the stories of circularity are really important because we need more of that material in the bin.

Mark

Yeah - that's terrific. And I was doing a bit of research, and I didn't realize, but, WM’s been in the recycling business since 1982 — so, for a very long time. When you talk about the 40 materials recovery facilities that you're investing in, are there specific waste streams or recycling streams that you're targeting more than others?

Tara

So those recycling facilities — think in your home if you have recycling at your home. Typically it's single streams, and that means you put your cardboard, you put your plastic bottles, you put your laundry detergent, you put your aluminum cans all in one bin. And then what we do when we do, and we do really well, is when a truck takes that to one of our recycling facilities, we have sophisticated equipment that leverages fantastic new technologies, including AI, to figure out ways to pull that apart.

And at the end of the day, we'll create a bale of cardboard. So think about all that e-commerce that you're doing at your home — all those Amazon boxes — we will pull out those Amazon boxes and they will get turned into into new boxes that can go into the retail economy. So really, when you think about it, it's residential, but also commercial businesses.

If you think about large big box retailers, they have an awful lot of cardboard and in some cases metal. We also are investing in construction and demolition recycling facilities — so, think construction when you're, tearing down a house or building a brand new, large retail store, there's metal, there's dirt, there's concrete. We have facilities that will process that and move those really vital commodities to other markets.

Mark

Yeah - that's terrific. So maybe two follow ups to that. So speed and scale when we talk about ‘it's time to make progress’, specifically to the industrial sectors, what are some of the things that you think can add to that speed and scale when it comes to circularity?

Tara

Well, circularity, it is so complicated. And it's really hard because if there were one thing we'd already be doing it.

It really is a systems-related problem. You have to have access to recycling. You have to have the transportation and logistics to get it someplace. You have to have really robust and viable markets. And it really screams for a broader partnership model. You need the right policy in place from a governmental perspective. You need companies like WM, who know how to process and separate it, and you need the brands who are willing to buy recycled content material.

And we are at this moment where a lot of that is coming together. So, really optimistic about where the future is headed for circularity.

Mark

Yeah, yeah. And, you talk a lot about being a people-led business, but you're also very focused on customers. Do you have any advice or what's the role that customers play before getting to one of your recycling facilities?

Tara

Well, all of our customers are on their own sustainability journey. And most, if not all of our customers are really looking for recycling as a solution. And recycling works when we all do it and we do it together, but we also have to do it in the right way. So if we have a large commercial customer — think about shopping malls or strip malls, we have to make sure that what ends up in the recycling bin is material that can be recycled in the first place.

So make sure that food waste isn't contaminated with your recycling bag and making sure that you're making the right decision when you throw it out. One of the reasons why, with our brand team, we've been spending a lot of time and effort on, really, how do we educate and motivate people to do the right thing when they're making that decision on where they put things.

Mark

Yeah, yeah. Terrific. So maybe switching gears a little bit from what we've talked about — consumers, technology, leadership. The importance of leadership. You're an executive at WM - you have been for a long time. You've led different businesses. But when it comes to ambition, when it comes to vision, when it comes to innovation, what do you see as being unique in order to lead a sustainability driven business?

Tara

Well, what's interesting about sustainability – and really being a sustainability professional, I'm the first chief sustainability officer at WM. I've been in the role for three years, and I really do believe as a chief sustainability officer, you have to do three things and you have to do them well and you have to be an educator, an influencer and an integrator.

And it's critically important because inside your company, everyone's on their own sustainability journey. Some people have their PhD and some people are just entering elementary school and you got to meet people where they are and understand what their role is when it comes to driving sustainability inside the company, but also how are they going to meet that moment with our customers, because our customers also increasingly are educated when it comes to sustainability.

And I think what we've done over the last three years and something that I'm really proud of, is we have embedded sustainability inside the company, and it's related to driving sustainability, but also, true, true economic drivers. How are we going to make this a business model where we can make money, grow the company, and grow our position in North America

Mark

Well, thank you, Tara, for joining us at Climate Week NYC.

This transcript has been edited for clarity

At Climate Week NYC, Mark Pellerin, the global head of our Energy and Natural Resources Practice, interviews Tara Hemmer, WM’s chief sustainability officer. They discuss what is required to fast-track and scale circularity and recycling, how WM is delivering profitability and sustainability, and what it takes to be a leader in a sustainability-focused business.

Interested in a particular topic? Skip to the following sections:

0:20 – Circularity and the role WM is playing

1:59 – Processing different recycling streams

3:45 – How to speed and scale circularity  

4:52 – The role of customers in recycling

5:59 – What’s required to lead a sustainability driven business

Mark Pellerin

We're at Climate Week NYC and I have the privilege to be here with my friend Tara Hemmer, Chief Sustainability Officer at WM.

Tara Hemmer

Thank you so much for having me, Mark. Pleasure to be here.

Mark

Of course, of course. And, we're excited to talk a little bit about circularity — given the opportunities that circularity presents. A recent report suggests that circularity here in the Americas, potentially will reduce carbon emissions by 16%.

And done right, it will create new economic value, as much as $1.5 trillion. Sustainability is a core part of your business, Tara. Help us understand some of the great things that you're doing today.

Tara

Well, on the circularity front, a lot of people don't know this about WM, but we are North America's largest recycler, especially in the residential space.

And so we recycle over 15 million tons of material every year. And a big piece of that comes from our recycling facilities — so, we're investing in over 40 recycling facilities across North America to automate them. And when we do that, we're going to create cleaner material, and when we create that cleaner material, it can be moved back into the circular economy.

So some of the things that we're most proud of is in our traditional recycling facilities, when you put a plastic water bottle in your recycling bin that might get converted to a new piece of apparel, a shirt, or it could go into carpet. Those laundry detergent bottles, they get converted into drainage pipe that could be built in a new community, near you.

So bringing to life the stories of circularity are really important because we need more of that material in the bin.

Mark

Yeah - that's terrific. And I was doing a bit of research, and I didn't realize, but, WM’s been in the recycling business since 1982 — so, for a very long time. When you talk about the 40 materials recovery facilities that you're investing in, are there specific waste streams or recycling streams that you're targeting more than others?

Tara

So those recycling facilities — think in your home if you have recycling at your home. Typically it's single streams, and that means you put your cardboard, you put your plastic bottles, you put your laundry detergent, you put your aluminum cans all in one bin. And then what we do when we do, and we do really well, is when a truck takes that to one of our recycling facilities, we have sophisticated equipment that leverages fantastic new technologies, including AI, to figure out ways to pull that apart.

And at the end of the day, we'll create a bale of cardboard. So think about all that e-commerce that you're doing at your home — all those Amazon boxes — we will pull out those Amazon boxes and they will get turned into into new boxes that can go into the retail economy. So really, when you think about it, it's residential, but also commercial businesses.

If you think about large big box retailers, they have an awful lot of cardboard and in some cases metal. We also are investing in construction and demolition recycling facilities — so, think construction when you're, tearing down a house or building a brand new, large retail store, there's metal, there's dirt, there's concrete. We have facilities that will process that and move those really vital commodities to other markets.

Mark

Yeah - that's terrific. So maybe two follow ups to that. So speed and scale when we talk about ‘it's time to make progress’, specifically to the industrial sectors, what are some of the things that you think can add to that speed and scale when it comes to circularity?

Tara

Well, circularity, it is so complicated. And it's really hard because if there were one thing we'd already be doing it.

It really is a systems-related problem. You have to have access to recycling. You have to have the transportation and logistics to get it someplace. You have to have really robust and viable markets. And it really screams for a broader partnership model. You need the right policy in place from a governmental perspective. You need companies like WM, who know how to process and separate it, and you need the brands who are willing to buy recycled content material.

And we are at this moment where a lot of that is coming together. So, really optimistic about where the future is headed for circularity.

Mark

Yeah, yeah. And, you talk a lot about being a people-led business, but you're also very focused on customers. Do you have any advice or what's the role that customers play before getting to one of your recycling facilities?

Tara

Well, all of our customers are on their own sustainability journey. And most, if not all of our customers are really looking for recycling as a solution. And recycling works when we all do it and we do it together, but we also have to do it in the right way. So if we have a large commercial customer — think about shopping malls or strip malls, we have to make sure that what ends up in the recycling bin is material that can be recycled in the first place.

So make sure that food waste isn't contaminated with your recycling bag and making sure that you're making the right decision when you throw it out. One of the reasons why, with our brand team, we've been spending a lot of time and effort on, really, how do we educate and motivate people to do the right thing when they're making that decision on where they put things.

Mark

Yeah, yeah. Terrific. So maybe switching gears a little bit from what we've talked about — consumers, technology, leadership. The importance of leadership. You're an executive at WM - you have been for a long time. You've led different businesses. But when it comes to ambition, when it comes to vision, when it comes to innovation, what do you see as being unique in order to lead a sustainability driven business?

Tara

Well, what's interesting about sustainability – and really being a sustainability professional, I'm the first chief sustainability officer at WM. I've been in the role for three years, and I really do believe as a chief sustainability officer, you have to do three things and you have to do them well and you have to be an educator, an influencer and an integrator.

And it's critically important because inside your company, everyone's on their own sustainability journey. Some people have their PhD and some people are just entering elementary school and you got to meet people where they are and understand what their role is when it comes to driving sustainability inside the company, but also how are they going to meet that moment with our customers, because our customers also increasingly are educated when it comes to sustainability.

And I think what we've done over the last three years and something that I'm really proud of, is we have embedded sustainability inside the company, and it's related to driving sustainability, but also, true, true economic drivers. How are we going to make this a business model where we can make money, grow the company, and grow our position in North America

Mark

Well, thank you, Tara, for joining us at Climate Week NYC.

This transcript has been edited for clarity