Employees help their communities

Three positive examples of how drivers have
made a difference

Every month, WM Monday gets many submissions from sites across the country on what our employees
are doing to make their communities safer. Whether it’s through the Waste Watch program, where drivers
are trained on working with emergency officials, or just being extra vigilant, workers are doing their part while
on the road.

Rowlett, Texas

Earlier this summer, Waste Management received a letter from Marvin Gibbs, a lieutenant with the Rowlett
Police Department, in which he thanked Drivers Michael Harris, Candelario Fuentes and Hector Valdez for
working together to help apprehend a suspect who had attempted a sexual assault.

“During our search for the suspect, Mike Harris was stopped and given the description,” Gibbs wrote. “Mike said
he would get the word out to the other drivers. The attempted sexual assault call came in at 9:43 a.m. and at 10:17 a.m.
we received a 911 call from a driver who spotted the suspect jumping fences in an alley. Officers responded and within
minutes they had the suspect in custody.”

Photo: Drivers Michael Harris, Candelario Fuentes and Hector Valdez.

Klamath Falls, Ore.

This past August, Residential Driver Curt Say was on his route at 3:30 a.m. when he came across a house fire
that had started in a garage. Taking quick action, Say notified dispatch of the address and asked them to call 911.
He then went to the front of the house and woke up the three occupants, likely saving their lives. This prompt action
also probably kept the house from burning down, and kept the fire from spreading to an adjacent home.

Barry Thompson, route manager from Klamath Falls, said Curt Say has a proven track record of consistently
good customer service, receiving customer complements (nine last year), and very seldom missing a pickup.
He is also trained in Waste Watch.

Photo: Curt Say with the Moor family.

Palm Beach, Fla.

On a hot summer day, Adele Brown, an elderly residential customer from South Florida, lost her balance while
in the garage and hit her head on the floor. Obscured by her car, and unable to get up, she laid there for more
than four hours waiting for someone to come along. At about 4:30 p.m., Driver Michael Hernandez was collecting
recyclables when he heard a cry for help.

“I decided to investigate further and then saw Ms. Brown on the ground of the garage,” Hernandez said. “It was
almost 93 degrees. I knew she needed help so I dialed 911 from the phone in the garage.”

Hernandez is also trained in Waste Watch.

Photo : Hernandez with Adele Brown