Based in Houston, Texas, Waste Management, Inc. (WM) operates one of North America’s most expansive environmental services platforms. With a $91.4 billion market cap, the company manages waste collection, recycling, disposal, and material recovery while also converting landfill gas into energy and delivering regulated healthcare waste and secure information destruction services. Over the past 52 weeks, WM stock gained 2.5%, significantly lagging the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) 15.6% gain. Year-to-date (YTD) per ...

Financial Performance - The company achieved third quarter revenues of $4.3 billion, with steel shipments totaling 3.2 million tonnes and adjusted EBITDA of $557 million [1][7][8] - Net income for the third quarter was reported at $318 million, or $2.05 per diluted share, which reflects a decrease in revenue compared to the second quarter due to lower flat-rolled steel pricing [7][8] - Operating income for the third quarter was $395 million, a 29% decline from the previous quarter, primarily due to steel metal spread contraction [8] Operational Highlights - The Sinton team reached a 72% utilization rate in September, with periods exceeding 90% during the quarter, demonstrating the mill's capability [1][23] - The company successfully ramped up four new value-add flat-rolled steel coating lines, expected to contribute fully to earnings by 2025, adding 1.1 million tons of higher-margin product [2][12] - Safety performance improved significantly, with the lowest total recordable incident rate and lost time rates in company history, and 84% of locations reported no recordable injuries [5][6] Market Dynamics - The domestic steel industry operated at an estimated production utilization rate of 78%, while the company's steel mills operated at 86%, indicating a competitive advantage [21] - The company is experiencing steady underlying steel demand, although a surge in steel imports has put pressure on supply dynamics for certain products [22][24] - The company anticipates increased fixed asset investment and demand drivers for steel and steel fabrication products in 2025 due to moderating interest rates and public funding [11][24] Strategic Investments - Approximately $1.9 billion has been invested in strategic growth initiatives through September 2024, with expectations for an additional $350 million to $400 million in the fourth quarter [13][14] - The company has repurchased $970 million of common stock year-to-date 2024, representing 4.5% of outstanding shares, with a remaining $486 million available for further repurchases [14] - The company is committed to sustainability, with new greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets aligned with the Paris Agreement, and is on track to introduce biocarbon into steel production by the first quarter of 2025 [15][16][81] Future Outlook - The company expects capital investments in 2025 to be in the range of $700 million to $800 million, with a focus on high-return strategic growth [14] - The aluminum production investments are projected to be EBITDA positive in the second half of 2025, with plans to operate the rolling mill at approximately 75% capacity in 2026 [12][66] - The company is optimistic about steel demand and pricing dynamics as it approaches the end of 2024 and enters 2025, driven by ongoing infrastructure spending and manufacturing onshoring [24][40]

Core Insights - China has paused export restrictions on gallium until November 27, 2026, allowing the U.S. to address supply chain issues related to this strategic metal [1] Industry Overview - Gallium is a minor metal by volume but essential for modern technology, with annual U.S. demand around 20 tons; its absence could disrupt aerospace and defense sectors [2] - The U.S. lacks primary domestic production and federal stockpiles of gallium, making it vulnerable to supply shortages [2] Production Insights - China's dominance in gallium production stems from policy rather than geology, as Chinese aluminum producers have focused on gallium recovery, while U.S. processors lose gallium in waste [3] - Several companies, including Trafigura's Nyrstar and Rio Tinto, are exploring gallium recovery from existing processes, which could meet U.S. demand with modest investment [4][5] Recycling Opportunities - Recycling semiconductor scrap into high-purity gallium presents an underutilized opportunity, with potential partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers like Intel and Texas Instruments [7] Policy and Incentives - The industry requires clear incentives to drive gallium recovery initiatives, with the Department of Energy and other agencies positioned to support through financial mechanisms [8]

If you've got a cell phone that you don't use, it can have a second life and you can help out a good cause. Once you factory reset your phone, your data and accounts should no longer be linked to that device. So now you can throw it out in the regular trash, right.Absolutely not. Phones contain lots of dangerous chemicals like arsenic, lead, and mercury. If thrown into a landfill, those chemicals could get into the groundwater, which would be a bad thing.A number of charities also accept phones. I'll highli ...

Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion - The average Australian buys 56 garments per year, contributing to a garbage truck of textiles going to landfill every second [3] - Australians contribute 300,000 tons of textiles to landfill annually, representing wasted resources and harmful carbon emissions [3] - 87% of textiles internationally end up in landfill [4] - International textile production nearly doubled from 58 million tons to 109 million tons between 2010 and 2020 [4] The "Five Garment Challenge" Solution - The report proposes a "Five Garment Challenge," urging individuals to buy only five new garments per year [16] - The challenge includes transforming existing garments and swapping or selling unwanted clothes [16] - Shifting from 56 garments to five garments per year could reduce Australia's textile landfill from 300,000 tons to 27,000 tons annually [23] - Globally, adopting this approach could prevent over 80 million tons of textile waste annually [23] Community and Personal Benefits - The "Recycled Runway" event transforms waste into wearable art, fostering inclusion, sustainability, skill-sharing, and community connection [9] - Participants in recycling initiatives report increased confidence, community connection, and a renewed love for fashion [9] - Raising awareness about sustainable fashion can lead to economic benefits, with people saving money or spending it on experiences [10]

Good afternoon. I have a real fire in my belly and and I I want to really accomplish something significant environmentally and and in the next 10 minutes I hope to share that passion with all of you and and to stoke this fire I need a lot of fuel. Okay. I go down to the farmers market every Saturday morning and I buy Beautiful produce, fruits and vegetables. One of the ones I bought this morning is this lovely pmen. It's pimmen season. Yeah. Hooray. It's also uh apple season as we all know, right? They're c ...

Core Idea - The art industry explores the potential of overlooked, seemingly insignificant materials found in urban environments, emphasizing their stories and meanings [4][15] - The industry highlights the value of recycling and reusing materials, transforming discarded items into art and inspiring environmental awareness [9][10] - The art world reflects on the relationship between humanity and the city, exploring shared history, cultural heritage, and the shaping of identity [15][16] Artistic Process & Inspiration - The artist collects materials from streets and everyday life, driven by a desire to preserve the raw urban aesthetics [10][12] - The industry's technique involves layering and combining diverse materials to reveal hidden qualities and create symbolic meaning [13][14] - Street art and urban contemporary movements serve as key inspirations, emphasizing accessibility and challenging traditional art spaces [10] Environmental & Social Commentary - The art sector raises concerns about excessive paper waste and its environmental impact, prompting reflection on consumption habits [7][8] - The industry uses art as a tool to inspire small changes in behavior, suggesting that collective actions can lead to significant environmental improvements [9] - The art field encourages viewers to reconsider their perception of value, questioning what is deemed worthless and prompting a deeper appreciation for everyday objects [1][16]

Industry Problem & Analysis - The plastic bag industry's system is designed to create waste and then blame consumers for it [3] - The industry uses tactics similar to big tobacco, including blame, scare, confuse, and influence [11] - After 40 years of recycling efforts, making plastic from virgin oil is still cheaper due to subsidies for the oil industry and a lack of support for recycling [16] - Corporations externalize costs, passing the bill for environmental and health impacts to future generations [17][18] Industry Playbook - Blame: Shift responsibility to consumers, labeling them as "litterbugs" [11] - Scare: Make alternatives seem less appealing by claiming reusable bags carry germs or that bag bans will kill jobs [12] - Confuse: Fund studies and create front groups to disseminate favorable facts to the public [13][14] - Influence: Use money, lobbyists, and lawyers to influence policy at local, state, and federal levels [15] Proposed Solution & Counter-Playbook - Shift incentives to reward companies that take responsibility for their impact with tax breaks and subsidies [18] - The counter-playbook consists of clarity, courage, and collective action [19] - Clarity: Question who benefits from the narrative and follow the money [19] - Courage: Stand up even when afraid [19] - Collective Action: Unite to make change unstoppable [20]

Recycling and Reuse Options - Individuals should wipe their old phones via factory reset to protect personal data before recycling or reuse [1][2][3] - The industry advises against discarding old phones in regular trash due to hazardous chemicals like arsenic, lead, and mercury that can contaminate groundwater [3] - Recycling centers can be found via calltorecycleorg, with options to check for cell phone recycling [3][4] - Charities like Cell Phones for Soldiers, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and 911 Cell Phone Bank accept phone donations [4][5][6] - Secondwave Recyclingcom allows recycling or donation to causes like Wounded Warrior Project, St Jude's Children's Hospital, and Greater Boston Sickle Cell Association [6] - Secure the Call repurposes phones for emergency calls by victims of domestic violence and senior citizens, ensuring proper recycling if the phone is non-functional [6][7] Alternative Uses - Old phones can be repurposed as security cameras using apps like Alfred Camera [8] - The gaming industry suggests turning old phones into dedicated gaming handhelds with emulators or remote play options like PS5 remote play or Steam Link [8] - Old phones can function as dedicated smart home controllers using apps like Apple Home or Google Home [9][10] - The tech community encourages using old phones to test beta versions of operating systems like iOS or Android [11] Trade-in and Other Considerations - Wireless carriers or phone manufacturers may offer trade-in value for old phones [12]

Environmental Awareness - Emphasizes the importance of caring for the planet, highlighting its provision of essential resources like food, water, and air [1] - Advocates for simple actions such as using reusable water bottles, planting trees, and avoiding littering [2] - Illustrates the positive impact of environmental care, including cleaner air, safer water, and thriving forests [4] - Warns of potential consequences of neglecting the environment, such as floods, hotter temperatures, and ecosystem damage [4] Renewable Energy & Sustainability - Showcases examples of renewable energy solutions, such as windmills in the Netherlands providing clean energy to thousands of homes [3] - Highlights Costa Rica's reliance on renewable energy sources for electricity generation [3] - Mentions the development of bricks made from recycled plastic, promoting waste reduction and innovative building materials [3] Call to Action - Encourages individual responsibility in environmental protection, emphasizing that everyone can be a "superhero" through recycling, energy conservation, and general care [4][5] - Promotes a future-oriented perspective, urging collective action to protect the Earth as the only home for future generations [4][5]