WMWaste Management, Inc.

“it's automation and forms of artificial intelligence that we've put in those plants. Jim mentioned, you've heard us talk about Smart truck, right? We've got all of our commercial and residential trucks outfitted with technology that allows us to capture over 300 million images a year. We could never do that manually. We couldn't put enough people anywhere to be able to do that, but we're using different forms of technology and AI to process about 95% of those images without a human having to touch them, and it's given us tremendous amounts of data that we can use, whether it's to evaluate safety, contamination, pricing opportunities, over serviced, under service customers, et cetera.”

“partially offset by 40 basis points of increased spending on technology initiatives and 70 basis points related to higher cost and timing-related impacts from incentive compensation and employee benefit costs.”

“From an AI perspective, I would tell you it's a little broader. We do use some artificial intelligence in our process, but it's really about our predictive analytical capability that our customer teams worked on building over the years and using a lot of that data that we're gathering filtering it through those technology tools and being able to give our folks a better predictive position to make decisions on when and where pricing is warranted and how it will be received and accepted by the customer.”

“we've been using AI-enabled cameras, for example, on trucks to it both helps us with the quality of the materials. So as you think about can being dumped into a recycle, can being dumped into the top of a truck. We've been using these AI-enabled cameras now for probably 6 or 7 years on and it is interesting watching the word because they're able to identify pretty accurately non-recycled materials coming out of that can. And then we're able to contact a customer and clean up their recycle streams.”

“And then you think from a safety perspective, I think a lot of what we're able to do using artificial intelligence to capture data on how our folks are operating inside the cab has given us the information to go and coach folks. And I do think that's a true contributor to the historically low rates we're seeing or the high retention rates we're seeing, if you will, and turnover rate has been as low as they've ever been.”

“Going forward, I think we've got tremendous opportunity in terms of routing and logistical capabilities that our folks continue to work on. We're actively right now piloting remote heavy equipment and a number of spots. We see that as a potential pathway down the road to forms of autonomy at some of our landfills, et cetera, et cetera.”

“we're using AI is one example from a coaching perspective with the 20-plus thousand drivers we have. So as much benefit as we've seen that showing up on our OpEx numbers in our collection and disposal margins, I think we still see a good bit of runway there to continue to accelerate those investments.”

“a lot of what we're doing in the recycling facilities that Tara team have talked about with AI and robotics and automation. What we're doing from a routing and logistics perspective with now, call it, 19,000 trucks we have on the street with the Health Care business.”

“including the use of augmented reality tools to improve technician efficiency and continued benefits from rightsizing the fleet.”

“Automation and Technology continue to help us flex costs and drive efficiency as volumes fluctuate.”

“driven by strong pricing and our success using Technology and Automation to reduce costs.”