Who Owns WM?
WM is the master brand of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM), the largest waste management and environmental services company in North America, headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1968, the company rebranded from Waste Management to WM in 2022 to reflect a broader strategy covering collection, disposal, recycling, renewable energy, and healthcare solutions. Parent FY2025 revenue was $25.2 billion.
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Who Owns WM?
- Parent Company: Waste Management, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: WM
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| WM | Waste Management, Inc. | Brand division |
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History of WM
- Founded: 1968
- Founders: Wayne Huizenga, Dean Buntrock
The brand began as Waste Management, formed in 1968 when Wayne Huizenga and Dean Buntrock consolidated independent garbage hauling companies around Chicago. Through the 1970s and 1980s it became the largest waste hauler in the United States, adding Wheelabrator waste-to-energy plants in 1988.
USA Waste Services acquired Waste Management in 1998 and adopted the acquired company's name, moving headquarters to Houston. The merger also exposed a major accounting scandal: pre-merger Waste Management had overstated earnings by about $1.7 billion between 1992 and 1997, leading to restatements and a shareholder settlement of roughly $457 million.
The company rebuilt through the 2000s by divesting non-core assets and refocusing on its North American solid waste network. It acquired rival Advanced Disposal in October 2020 for approximately $4.6 billion.
In 2022 the company rebranded to WM, replacing the Waste Management name on trucks, containers, and facilities to signal a broader environmental solutions strategy. The November 2024 acquisition of Stericycle for approximately $7.2 billion added the WM Healthcare Solutions segment.
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FY2025 was the brand's best year, with record revenue of $25.2 billion and a company-record 30.1% adjusted operating EBITDA margin.
About Waste Management, Inc.
What does Waste Management own?
WM owns the largest network of landfills, transfer stations, collection routes, and recycling facilities in North America, plus landfill gas-to-energy plants and the Stericycle healthcare waste business acquired in 2024.
Is Waste Management publicly traded?
Yes. Waste Management, Inc. trades on the NYSE under ticker WM and is a component of the S&P 500.
Who founded Waste Management?
Wayne Huizenga and Dean Buntrock built the company in 1968 by consolidating independent waste hauling businesses in the Chicago area. In 1998 USA Waste Services acquired the company and kept the Waste Management name.
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Who is the CEO of Waste Management?
Jim Fish has been CEO since November 2016. He retires on January 4, 2027, when President John Morris becomes CEO and joins the board of directors.
What is Waste Management's revenue?
Waste Management reported FY2025 revenue of $25.2 billion, up from $22.1 billion in 2024. Net income was $2.7 billion and adjusted operating EBITDA reached a record $7.58 billion.
Why did Waste Management change its name to WM?
The company rebranded to WM in 2022 to reflect a broader environmental solutions strategy covering recycling, renewable energy, and healthcare waste, rather than waste collection and disposal alone.
How many people does Waste Management employ?
Approximately 60,500 full-time employees as of December 31, 2025, including about 53,600 in the United States and 6,900 outside the country, primarily in Canada.
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- Founded: 1968
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: WM
- Revenue: $25.2 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: approximately 60,500
Where Is WM Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
WM Categories & Tags
WM Sustainability & Ethics
WM's sustainability position is structural: it is simultaneously North America's largest landfill operator, largest recycler by volume, and a major producer of landfill gas-to-energy and renewable natural gas.
The company is investing roughly $1.6 billion through 2026 to modernize recycling infrastructure, and its RNG program converts captured landfill methane into fuel for its own natural gas truck fleet and for sale. Critics note the tension that WM profits from disposal volumes even as it promotes diversion and recycling.
Awards & Recognition
- Fortune 500: WM consistently ranks among the largest US companies by revenue.
- Record FY2025 margin: The company delivered its best-ever adjusted operating EBITDA margin of 30.1% in 2025.
WM Recalls & Controversies
Historical accounting scandal: Pre-merger Waste Management overstated earnings by about $1.7 billion from 1992 to 1997, one of the largest accounting scandals of its era, resolved with SEC settlements and a roughly $457 million shareholder settlement after the 1998 merger.
Stericycle integration: The 2024 acquisition produced ERP disruptions and customer churn through 2025, though the segment returned to growth in 2026.
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Environmental scrutiny: As the largest landfill owner in North America, the brand faces ongoing scrutiny over methane emissions, leachate management, and community opposition to new or expanded disposal sites.
Brands Owned by Waste Management, Inc.
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WM Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Backed by the largest landfill and collection network in North America
- +Strong pricing power from scarce disposal capacity
- +Record FY2025 revenue of $25.2 billion and record adjusted EBITDA margin
- +Growing recycling automation and renewable natural gas platforms
- +Heavy investment in technology and automation improving margins
Considerations
- -Brand equity still tied to waste hauling despite environmental repositioning
- -Stericycle integration issues damaged service reputation during 2025
- -Landfill footprint carries long-term environmental liabilities
- -Exposure to recycled commodity price swings
- -CEO transition scheduled for January 2027
Frequently Asked Questions About WM
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to WM
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Services | USA | 1999 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Waste Management | USA | 1989 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Conglomerates IndustrialRepublic Services
Owned by Republic Services, Inc.
Second-largest waste collection and recycling brand in North America, serving roughly 13 million customers as the consumer-facing identity of Republic Services, Inc.
waste-managementrecyclingtrash-collection
Healthcare PharmaceuticalsStericycle
Owned by Waste Management, Inc.
Regulated medical waste and secure information destruction brand acquired by WM in 2024 for $7.2 billion, now the core of WM Healthcare Solutions.
medical-wastehealthcare-servicesdocument-destruction
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: WM competes with 2 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to WM
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Waste Management, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Conglomerates IndustrialRepublic Services
Owned by Republic Services, Inc.
Second-largest waste collection and recycling brand in North America, serving roughly 13 million customers as the consumer-facing identity of Republic Services, Inc.
waste-managementrecyclingtrash-collection
Publicly Traded
Republic Services operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Conglomerates IndustrialACC Limited
Owned by Adani Group
Indian cement and ready-mix concrete manufacturer, one of the oldest cement companies in India, owned by Adani Group since 2022.
cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned
ACC Limited is privately owned, unlike WM which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialAmbuja Cement
Owned by Adani Group
Indian cement manufacturer providing construction materials and building solutions, owned by Adani Group since 2022.
cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned
Ambuja Cement is privately owned, unlike WM which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialCHS
Owned by CHS Inc.
American agribusiness brand for grain, agronomy, energy, and crop input services, the master brand of the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States.
agribusinesscooperativegrain
Privately Owned
CHS is privately owned, unlike WM which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialDalmia Cement
Owned by Dalmia Bharat Group
Indian cement and building materials brand owned by Dalmia Bharat Group, the fourth largest cement manufacturer in India by capacity.
cementconstructionbuilding-materials
Privately Owned
Dalmia Cement is privately owned, unlike WM which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Conglomerates IndustrialKiewit
Owned by Kiewit Corporation
Corporate brand of Kiewit Corporation, the employee-owned Omaha construction and engineering company founded in 1884.
constructionengineeringinfrastructure
Privately Owned
Kiewit is privately owned, unlike WM which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Waste Management, Inc. Stock Information
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Jobs at Waste Management, Inc.
Latest News About WM
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