WM CEO Jim Fish Discusses the Economy, Labor Automation and Sustainability Investments
As the waste and recycling industry continues to evolve, its largest company — WM — remains a key barometer for the pace of innovation and economic activity in the sector.
Following the company’s recent Q1 earnings report, CEO Jim Fish was in the spotlight during multiple sessions at last week’s WasteExpo. During a keynote session, Fish said one of his top goals for the year ahead was to ensure that big spending plans for renewable natural gas projects at landfills and MRF expansions — described as “critically important for us” — are rolled out smoothly. He also discussed how certain investments in automation can reduce the company’s labor costs through attrition, including the example of how turnover for MRF jobs can be as high as 40-50%.