Waste Management of the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Auburn-based Glacier Recycle, which provides comprehensive recycling services for the construction industry.
Waste Management officials said the acquisition will expand the company’s “green services” related to waste reduction, waste recovery and the processing of waste into new materials.
Waste Management is one of the largest recyclers in North America and a leading provider of green services such as recycling, collecting food waste for compost and generating renewable energy from waste. In the Pacific Northwest, Waste Management provides environmental services to help communities and businesses to achieve aggressive recycling and sustainability goals.
Glacier recycles construction materials and processes recovered wood for the manufacturing of recycled wood products and for use as biomass fuel. Through its wood processing facility in Auburn and its rental containers for construction sites, Glacier serves the entire Puget Sound area.
Dean Kattler, Waste Management’s vice president-Pacific Northwest, said the integration of Glacier’s processing facilities will allow Waste Management to significantly increase its construction recycling in the Puget Sound region. He said it will also position WM to provide services to support the continued growth of green building and LEED certification across the region.
“This is good news for everyone who wants to see less waste going to landfills,” Kattler said. “It is part of Waste Management’s increasing focus on reducing waste, recovering materials from the waste stream and putting waste to its highest and best use.
“This investment also shows Waste Management of the Pacific Northwest is committed to growing our business and our community partnerships in the Puget Sound, in strategic and innovative ways,” Kattler said. “Puget Sound communities are leaders in the global sustainability arena because of ideas and investments such as this. We are proud to be part of this sustainability success and committed to the green future of this region.”
The transaction is expected to be completed on Nov. 30, contingent on the assignment of the necessary permits and contracts. Until then and into 2011, operations at Glacier will continue as usual for customers and employees. Services and hours will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
Waste Management did not disclose terms of the transaction.
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About Waste Management of the Pacific Northwest
Waste Management is the leading provider of comprehensive recycling and environmental services in the Pacific Northwest. We provide innovative sustainability solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers, from curbside collection with natural gas trucks for clean air to waste reduction programs that turn food scraps into compost for healthy gardens. The company uses waste that cannot be recycled to generate renewable energy, powering 7,500 homes in the Pacific Northwest. For more information, go to www.ThinkGreen.com or www.wmnorthwest.com.
