Waste Management (WM) donated $5,000 to the Auburn Food Bank as a part of their initiative to get customers to switch to paperless billing.

On Wednesday, July 6, Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus presented the $5,000 check to Debbie Christian, the executive director of the Auburn Food Bank.

To celebrate their initiative to go paperless, Waste Management donated $1 to the Auburn Food Bank for every customer in Auburn who signed up for paperless billing, automatic payment or downloaded the My WM App beginning on Oct. 1, 2021 when the new contract went into effect, according to WM.

“This is a great example of how Auburn residents step up to support their local food bank and their neighbors who depend on it,” Backus said. “The work of the Auburn Food Bank has never been more important as grocery prices continue to rise.”

The donation to the food bank comes during a time when high inflation rates have caused many families to struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. Christian said the donation will help those in need.

“Our community is in need and once again our residents, our city leadership and WM have answered the call,” said Christian.

Beyond supporting the local food bank, switching to paperless can help to reduce waste. According to WM, 20,000 Auburn customers are billed quarterly, if everyone switched to paperless it would eliminate the printing and mailing of 80,000 invoices each year.