Enviromental Stewardship

WM is committed to protecting human health and the environment. This commitment is a cornerstone of all that we do and the following principals are applicable to company operations worldwide:

Protection
We will conduct all operations in a manner that protects the environment and our employees, neighbors, and customers.

Compliance
We will comply with all legal requirements and proactively implement procedures to ensure compliance.

Conservation
We will practice and promote the conservation of nature and the earth’s energy resources. The science of landfill construction has progressed remarkably from the days when waste was deposited in open, unlined “dumps.”

Today, modern landfills like High Acres are carefully designed to contain waste and protect the environmental integrity of the surrounding area – including the air, water and soil. Our landfill incorporates advanced design features, including multi-layer liner construction, gas extraction and leachate removal systems.

WM is committed to meeting and or exceeding all regulatory requirements. Each facility is maintained carefully with a goal to meet or exceed federal, state and local regulations.

In accordance with our NYSDEC and EPA permits, High Acres Landfill monitors groundwater, surface water and the air at the facility.

Groundwater monitoring is completed quarterly through a network of perimeter monitoring wells and landfill gas is monitored in accordance with the Title V permit. Leachate is collected and treated and monitored daily. Stormwater is sampled and analyzed annually.

Landfill gas is a naturally occurring byproduct of waste and represents a low-cost green resource that can help generate alternative sources of power. Each person in the United States generates about 4.5 pounds of waste per day, and more than 50% of this waste is managed in municipal solid waste landfills such as High Acres Landfill. Landfill gas typically consists of about 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide.

Instead of simply flaring the gas, WM uses this gas in a variety of applications to create green energy. By capturing this greenhouse gas and using it instead to produce power at our onsite High Acres Renewable Energy Powerplant, we reduce methane emissions and the environmental impact of their releases into the air. High Acres Landfill is currently managing more than 7,400 cubic feet per minute of landfill gas. The gas is collected and removed through a series of wells located throughout the landfill.

To install a gas well, special equipment is used to drill into the waste and a pipe with holes, surrounded by gravel, is inserted to collect the gas flow. The facility generates enough energy to power nearly 10,000 homes. With a large and growing number of beneficial-use gas projects around the country, WM is a nationwide leader in turning landfill gas into electrical power. The company has 136 landfill gas to energy related projects operating in 19 states.

The High Acres Nature Area (HANA) is adjacent to and owned by WM's High Acres Landfill and Recycling Center, which is located on the border of Monroe and Wayne Counties in the towns of Perinton and Macedon.

The 250 acre nature area is being preserved as part of WM’s overall corporate commitment to sustainable environmental solutions. Managed by WM for conservation, community trails, and outdoor education, High Acres has been certified through the Wildlife Habitat Council, a non-profit accreditor of programs that create wildlife habitats on corporate lands across the globe since 2006.

HANA is also a proud member of the New York State Birding Trail as part of the Central- Finger Lakes region. Birding is a fun, inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors. For birding resources and more information, visit ibirdny.org.

Over the years, HANA has earned several awards and recognition for their efforts through the Wildlife Habitat Council including multiple “Corporate Habitat of the Year” awards in honor of outstanding commitment to the enhancement of wildlife and biodiversity, and several “Corporate Lands For Learning of the Year” in honor of an outstanding certified environmental education program.

HANA would not be possible without our dedicated volunteer team with expertise in biology and avian studies, who have facilitated a truly remarkable education program. Since 2011, HANA has partnered with the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Environmental Science Department, supporting numerous student internships on site at HANA and the program continues to grow and flourish.

Click here to download a complete map of the High Acres walking trails.

Click here to download a nature scavenger hunt for the High Acres Nature Area.