7.09.2004 ET

(CSRwire) Stamford, Conn. - Keep America Beautiful, Inc. has announced that Waste Management, Inc. has been selected as the 2004 recipient of its annual Vision for America Award. Keep America Beautiful is recognizing the nation's leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services because of its commitment to environmental stewardship and community service.

The Vision for America Award will be presented at a black tie-optional dinner in New York City at the Grand Hyatt on October 19, 2004. Accepting will be A. Maurice Myers, chairman of the board, who will remain chairman of Waste Management until his retirement in November 2004.

"Waste Management has an impressive and long-standing record on environmental stewardship," said Keep America Beautiful President G. Raymond Empson. "Keep America Beautiful knows that Waste Management's corporate environmental philosophy is based on a deeply rooted commitment to support the environment and conserve natural resources."

Waste Management's environmental initiatives have earned it recognition from various organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. It has helped to form the Chicago Climate Exchange to provide voluntary solutions for reducing and trading greenhouse gas emissions.

Waste Management works with local community groups and companies to turn landfills into recreational space such as parks, campgrounds, athletic fields and golf courses, when possible. For example, in Waterford Township, Penn., a little league baseball facility now stands where a landfill once operated. A constructed wetland was also created to manage surface water run-off and provide a preserve for native wildlife.

As the largest recycler of solid waste material, Waste Management processes more than 5 million tons of recyclable materials each year. In 2003 Waste Management formed Recycle America Alliance, a wholly-owned subsidiary and the nation's largest recycling company.

The company has been a leader in the development of bioreactor technology and currently has 10 landfill projects utilizing bioreactor methods, which can increase the waste capacity of a landfill by more than 15 percent.

Waste Management has the largest trucking fleet in the waste industry and operates one of the largest fleets powered by clean-burning natural gas.

Over the years, Waste Management has contributed generously to the acceleration of Keep America Beautiful's educational programs. It has sponsored the rewrite and updates of Keep America Beautiful curricula and is a sponsor of the Great American Cleanup™ and the Web-based Toolbox for Community Change. It has been a partner of Keep America Beautiful for more than 20 years. A. Maurice Myers also serves on the Board of Directors of Keep America Beautiful.

About Waste Management, Inc.
Waste Management, Inc. is its industry's leading provider of comprehensive waste management services. Based in Houston, the company serves municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout North America. The company is strongly committed to a foundation of financial strength, operating excellence and professionalism. For more information about Waste Management, go to www.wm.com.

About Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc. is the nation's largest nonprofit public education and community improvement organization whose network of more than 540 city, county, statewide and international affiliates engages individuals in programs that prevent litter and reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials. Through partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, Keep America Beautiful's programs motivate millions of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, creating safer and more livable community environments. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. To learn more about the Vision for America Award program or view a list of previous winners, please go to www.kab.org.

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