If you're looking for more in-depth understanding of how the waste sector takes sustainability action, this case study shares real-world examples.
Every year WM New Zealand (formerly Waste Management) collects over 1,000,000 tonnes of waste and recycles well over 200,000 tonnes of materials. They have over 900 trucks and 15 materials recovery facilities across New Zealand.
Read on to learn how WM have implemented sustainability solutions to decarbonise across their operations, from switching to electric vehicles to holding themselves to account with Carbon Footprint Committees in each division. We've also included video highlights with their Chief Growth and Sustainability Officer Ingrid Cronin-Knight, who shared insights at one of our recent panel events.
What was your turning point to start your decarbonisation journey?
Our decarbonisation journey began in 2016 with a pilot programme to convert diesel trucks to electric vehicles. This initial trial proved successful, leading us to establish a dedicated EV conversion workshop in East Tamaki, Auckland, in 2018.
By the end of 2024, our fleet had grown to 55 electric trucks and we closed off the year celebrating over 2 million electric truck kilometres travelled. Our electric trucks prevented about 1,412 tonnes of CO2e emissions entering the atmosphere. The electrification programme will be accelerated by our partnership with Volvo, which now allows us to purchase electric trucks directly from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
We were pioneers in New Zealand's waste industry, becoming the first company to measure greenhouse gas emissions and establish a baseline using CEMARS (now Toitū Envirocare) in 2016. In 2019, we achieved a significant milestone by completing our first audited carbon reduction plan.
To further solidify our commitment to sustainability, WM joined the Climate Leaders Coalition in 2018. As a member, we've pledged to measure and publicly report our carbon footprint, set ambitious emissions reduction targets, and collaborate with our suppliers to reduce their emissions.
Did you have any challenges?
Our truck fleet, consuming over 10 million litres of diesel annually, was a significant contributor to the company’s carbon footprint. The potential impact of electrification was staggering - each electric truck could save an average of 125 litres of diesel per day, with a complete fleet conversion potentially saving 100,000 litres daily. This represented not just substantial financial savings, but a massive reduction in carbon emissions on both a national and global scale.
However, the path to electrification isn’t without obstacles. Range anxiety is a major concern, especially for collection trucks that travel an average of 200km daily. But we saw an opportunity.
The stop-start nature of waste collection, with up to 1200 stops per day, proved to be an ideal use-case for electric vehicles. Each stop allows for regenerative braking, recharging the batteries - a stark contrast to the energy waste in conventional diesel vehicles.
You have a lot of team members and in over 70 locations nationwide! How did you bring your internal team along on your decarbonisation journey?
Strong leadership and a clear vision were instrumental in engaging our team in our decarbonisation journey. Our managing director at the start of the journey, Tom Nickels, was a passionate advocate for sustainability and, although he has retired, retains strong ties with WM as a member of our external Sustainability Advisory Panel. His personal commitment and belief in the importance of environmental stewardship inspired our team to embrace the cause.
In 2018, we conducted a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process involving both external and internal stakeholders. This helped us identify key issues that mattered to our team and develop our first sustainability strategy, "For Future Generations." We mapped these issues across five pillars: Our Environment, Our Communities, Our Customers, Our People, and Our Business. Decarbonisation was a central focus within the "Our Environment" pillar.
To embed sustainability and decarbonisation into our company culture, we implemented several initiatives:
- Accountability: We held ourselves accountable by forming a Carbon Footprint Committee, establishing sustainability champions in each division, and implementing site carbon budgets.
- External guidance: We sought advice and guidance from our external Sustainability Advisory Panel.
While not everyone initially embraced sustainability and carbon reporting, we worked hard to educate our team members and foster a better understanding of carbon emissions and reporting. This process not only improved our team's knowledge but also increased their awareness of the broader aspects of sustainability.
Under the leadership of our current Managing Director Evan Maehl we’ve committed to being carbon neutral in our operational emissions by 2050. We've witnessed a growing demand for decarbonisation from our customers, which has further reinforced the importance of our efforts. Today, there's a much better understanding of carbon reporting across the company, and it's now recognised as an integral part of our daily operations.
How did engaging Toitū change the way you work?
Toitū has been invaluable in guiding our decarbonisation efforts, providing target setting, accountability, and practical advice. In 2022, our sustainability team launched Sustainability Services, dedicated to empowering our customers to make more informed choices. One of our key offerings, carbon reporting, has raised awareness among our customers about the environmental impact of their waste.
To ensure the accuracy and reliability of our carbon data, we partnered with Toitū to verify our processes and ensure compliance with ISO 14064-1:2018 standards. This collaboration provides our customers with confidence in the quality of our carbon reporting.
What’s a common misconception around waste and emissions?
Class 1 modern landfills (like the ones we own and run at Redvale, Tirohia, Kate Valley, Whitford and Bonny Glen) have reduced gross carbon emissions by 43% since countries around the world started measuring their emissions in 1990.
Today modern landfills only make up 1.3% of Aotearoa’s total carbon footprint, and WM’s landfills only contribute 0.1% of this – despite taking the majority of the waste from the largest population centres in Auckland and Christchurch.
To put that in context, if those landfills didn’t have gas capture they would be releasing emissions equivalent to 250, 000 cars on the road each year.
Not only have we stopped greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere, we’ve created renewable energy – enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes in 2022.
Can you share a key moment in your Toitū journey?
A significant milestone in our sustainability journey is the upcoming integration of Scope 3 emissions as part of the Elevate programme. While this will be a complex undertaking, it is essential for achieving our ambitious sustainability goals.
We are aware quantifying and reporting Scope 3 emissions will be resource-intensive and time-consuming. However, it is crucial for understanding and addressing our overall environmental footprint and identifying opportunities for energy efficiency, waste reduction, and supply chain optimisation.
How do you integrate your Toitū certification with your other sustainability initiatives?
Toitū certification is a key component of our sustainability strategy, Porohita. This strategy aims to achieve circularity and carbon neutrality by 2050, among other objectives.
We've incorporated relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Porohita to ensure a comprehensive approach. Our Carbon Neutral pillar aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
Toitū certification helps us accurately measure and report our progress, supporting our commitment to transparency and accountability. This approach allows us to demonstrate tangible results and maintain stakeholder trust. People can have more than faith that we do what we say we will.
What would you say to those unsure about managing their emissions?
Don't be focused on perfection. Just start where you are with what you have, and gradually build momentum. Sustainability really is a journey.
Video insights
WM New Zealand's Chief Growth and Sustainability Officer Ingrid Cronin-Knight joined our panel event on implementing effective climate strategies. This video shares some key takeaways.