WMI Reduces Workforce; WMI and Allied Divest Operations

Leslie Bakun

Houston -- Waste Management Inc. (WMI) has announced plans to cut approximately 800 workers from its workforce. Those affected are 600 mid-and senior-level managers in the operations, finance and billing departments, and a reduction of 200 contract workers from the information technology area. In March, the company implemented a plan to reduce its number of market areas in the United States and Canada and to downsize certain overhead positions, which led to a closer examination of its organizational structure.

Additionally, late last week the U.S. antitrust enforcers approved the company’s plans to buy assets in five states from Allied Waste Industries, Scottsdale, Ariz., according to news sources. This came after both companies, in compliance with the Justice Department, Washington, D.C., agreed to divest some operations to preserve competition. Under the agreement, WMI must sell its operations in certain counties across the United States. Also, it must notify the Justice Department if it plans to acquire any disposal assets in the Tulsa, Okla., and Muskogee, Okla. areas.