Press Release

WASTE MANAGEMENT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL
HABITAT CONSERVATION AWARD

Baltimore, MD, November 17, 2008 - Employees at Waste Management’s El Sobrante Landfill received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 20th Annual Symposium, 20/20 Vision: Celebrating the Past, Looking to the Future. Waste Management demonstrates its commitment to environmental stewardship and increasing native biodiversity by achieving habitat recertification and Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) certification at the El Sobrante Landfill.

“This year, our 20th Anniversary, WHC celebrates two decades of solid leadership and on-the-ground achievements by our members in wildlife habitat preservation and conservation education,” said Robert Johnson, WHC President. “WHC members are continuing to lead the way to further define and demonstrate how corporations can use their lands to preserve our biodiversity, while preparing new generations through conservation education to understand how to be better leaders and managers for tomorrow’s sustainable businesses and communities. Congratulations to Waste Management for their volunteer-based efforts to preserve the biodiversity of their community and the world, and to connect people to nature.”

The active landfill area at the El Sobrante Landfill, as well as future expansion phases and undisturbed open space on the property, or plan area, is covered by a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Game. The plan area is comprised of approximately 1,333 acres. The landfill area constitutes approximately 645 acres of the total property, while undisturbed open spaces account for approximately 688 acres located south of Lake Matthews.

The plan area is located within a regionally significant area for both the Stephens' kangaroo rat and the coastal California gnatcatcher. The HCP provides connectivity between the habitat on-site and sections of the Lake Matthews-Estelle Mountain Reserve, which is in turn linked to another parcel of preserved land. The El Sobrante Landfill's long-term Stephens' kangaroo rat plan combines the addition of occupied habitat and adaptive management measures when necessary, and is designed to ensure the continued existence of Stephens' kangaroo rat in its natural ecological region. The coastal California gnatcatchers in the plan area are part of a high-density gnatcatcher population in northwestern Riverside County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there are 300 pairs of the highly sensitive species present in the region.

The wildlife team integrated native plant species into the landscape of the office entry, scale house and visitor parking lot, including identification signs with the common and scientific name of each species. In 2008, the Chino Boy Scout troop assisted in the enhancement of a pollinator demonstration garden by planting native species and the removal of invasive plant species. A nesting pair of barn owls was discovered at the El Sobrante Landfill, prompting the wildlife team to install four owl boxes in order to ensure the safety and success of the breeding pair.

A Habitat Management Committee (HMC) oversees management measures covered by the HCP. Employees are engaged in resource management and educational opportunities, but all changes or recommendations are approved first by the HMC. The wildlife team, founded in 2003, participates in habitat projects and is responsible for the monitoring. The team created an exceptionally creative education initiative while establishing an employee natural resource reference library in the El Sobrante Landfill office. Native wildflower packets, species identification cards and wildlife posters were created by the wildlife team as an educational resource. The team also educates as many as 250 visitors to the landfill and wildlife preserve a year.

Corporate Lands For Learning (CLL) certified in 2008, the El Sobrante Landfill and Wildlife Preserve has established a resource that facilitates environmental education and increases the community's understanding of the public health service that the company provides. Objectives of the program not only include education but also outreach components, partnership development, conservation, and community awareness. Since 2007 the site has served a wide range of elementary and high schools as well as Boy and Girl Scout troops.

Landfill and Habitat site tours are the driving force behind this CLL program. Tours are comprised of several learning stations, each attended by a qualified and knowledgeable employee. Stations include the Wildlife Preserve, attended by El Sobrante biologists, Landfill Gas to Energy attended by a Gas to Energy Technician, Water Quality Monitoring attended by a Landfill Technician, and finally, a Landfill Site Tour led by the El Sobrante Supervisor or Environmental Protection Officer.

In addition to regular site tours, El Sobrante has provided a native tree planting project for Boy Scout Troop 424. Scouts planted sycamore and cottonwood trees and learned the importance of trees in controlling erosion and their role as a natural resource. Chino Boy Scouts participated in similar native species project when they teamed up with El Sobrante biologists to restore the on-site native garden. Scouts discovered the importance of native plants and pollinators and why it is critical to control invasive species.

El Sobrante Landfill was one of 214 sites recognized at the 2008 Symposium for creating a Wildlife at WorkSM program. In addition, 97 Corporate Lands for LearningSM programs reach thousands of learners from schools and scout groups to master gardeners and university researchers. Since 1990, WHC has certified 489 programs worldwide. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require that sites apply for periodic renewal.

Waste Management’s El Sobrante Landfill is located in the unincorporated area of Riverside County. The landfill serves more than one million Inland Empire residents and is a critical component of Riverside County and the greater Los Angeles region’s infrastructure. The site has more than XXX acres in permanent preservation and is a critical component of preserving open space in Riverside County. For more information on the landfill, please go to www.keepinginlandempireclean.com.

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