WM Offers Tips to Stay Safe and Go Green this School Year

Gulf Coast – As we embark on a new school year, WM would like to remind the public that safety is our number one priority year-round, especially at this time of year when children will be at bus stops and on the road heading back to school. There are two vehicles that some motorists may attempt to get around: a school bus and a waste collection truck. Both tend to slow traffic while performing necessary duties, and we are urging drivers to be alert and avoid distractions.

As we kick-off a new school year, WM shares the following truck safety tips:

  • Keep a safe distance from the truck – at least 15 feet.
  • Every WM truck is equipped with a back-up alarm. Stay alert and listen for the back-up alarm with “beep-beep-beep” sounds. If you hear this sound or see the white back-up lights, be sure to move out of the way of the truck.
  • There are several areas where the visibility can be restricted for the driver. If you cannot see the driver’s eyes, they may not be able to see you.
  • It can take service vehicles twice as long to stop as a passenger car. Always keep a safe distance from a truck.
  • Vehicles like WM trucks make frequent stops and often back up, so don’t follow the truck closely while driving, walking, running or biking.
  • If walking, never approach or climb on the truck.

“Safety is one of our core values, and our professional drivers are depending on the community to do their part to help maintain a safe environment for students traveling to and from school,” said Mark Noel, WM Gulf Coast Area Director Environmental, Health and Safety.  “As we begin the new school year, WM encourages drivers to take precautionary measures to keep everyone safe on the road.”

In addition to staying safe on the road, WM is also asking the community to join in on being stewards of the environment. Every school year parents and students pack lunches, snacks and drinks for the day, and this can produce excessive waste with the use of disposable materials, when alternative reusable or recyclable materials could be used. 

WM offers the following green tips for parents and students this school year:

  • Reduce the trash created by disposable bags, sandwich bags and foil by packing lunches in washable, reusable lunchboxes, bags and containers.
  • Use reusable or recyclable beverage containers for drinks to stay hydrated throughout the day.
  • Keep in mind that whole fruits and vegetables as snacks are healthier and better for the environment than packaged snacks.
  • Instead of purchasing individually wrapped snack-sized packages, buy the larger size and pack snacks in reusable containers to save money and reduce waste.
  • When buying new supplies, consider paper and notebooks made from recycled paper as these eco-friendly supply options are available at many large retailer stores.

Let’s all work together to have a safe and green school year.

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ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling, and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics, and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them achieve their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post-consumer materials, and is the leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas-to-electricity plants in North America. WM’s fleet includes nearly 11,000 natural gas trucks – the largest heavy-duty natural gas truck fleet of its kind in North America. To learn more about WM and the company’s sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.