Waste Management - Keeping Hawaii Clean

Kapolei, HI, July 15, 2008 - Waste Management of Hawaii recently donated $3,000 to the Hawaii Foodbank as a bronze star sponsor for its 13th Annual Patriots Celebration. The July 3 gala dinner at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa honored the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division-a Marine Reserve unit with close ties to Hawaii-and raised funds to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank's statewide programs.

"We were so honored to be able to be a part of this celebration recognizing our troops and are always glad to give back to the communities we serve," said Joe Whelan, general manager for Waste Management of Hawaii. "Through this patriotic event, we were not only able to thank the brave men and women who are currently deployed overseas, but also ensure that the Hawaii Foodbank received the necessary funds to carry out its mission to feed Hawaii's hungry."

This year, Waste Management of Hawaii also sponsored the attendance of several members of the 4th Force Reconnaissance Company and their families at the gala dinner.

Since 2007, Waste Management has donated a total of $25,000 to the Hawaii Foodbank and its neighbor island subsidiary groups - including The Food Basket's spring food drive "Waste Not, Want Not," on the Big Island that collected more than 50,000 pounds of food and raised nearly $70,000.

The Hawaii Foodbank is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency on Oahu that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of both perishable and non-perishable food to help feed Hawaii's hungry. Donated and purchased foods are distributed to 250 charities on Oahu and to food banks on Hawaii, Maui and Kauai. Last year the Hawaii Foodbank distributed nearly 8 million pounds of food, including one million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to those requiring emergency food assistance in Hawaii. The Hawaii Foodbank is a certified member of America's Second Harvest, the Nation's Food Bank Network.

Waste Management of Hawaii operates Waimanalo Gulch, West Hawaii and Kekaha Landfills as an integral part of each county's solid waste management infrastructure. The facilities handle municipal solid waste, which is heavily regulated, monitored and controlled by local, state and federal government agencies. In addition to its community contributions and significant volunteer efforts, Waste Management of Hawaii provides a benefit to the local economy of more than $2.9 million annually. For more information of how we "think green," visit www.keepinghawaiiclean.com.

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