This Earth Day, the 55th in its history, there is reason for both optimism and concern for Long Island’s environment. While our air, land, and water are undoubtedly cleaner than they were in 1970, our groundwater is still facing threats of contamination and our region is combatting a solid waste crisis.

At Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island, we’ve proudly served our communities with a commitment to safe, efficient and sustainable solid waste and recycling practices for decades. This year, that mission is strengthened as Winters Bros. has become a WM company.

Don’t be fooled—there is plenty each one of us can do to help protect our environment. Recycling is at the top of that list. In 2020, Winters Bros. and the Town of Brookhaven built Long Island’s largest and most advanced recycling center. This project not only made environmental sense, but economic sense too—creating jobs and saving taxpayers money. In 2024 alone, the town recycled nearly 50 million pounds of material.

Still, much work remains. We must reduce vehicle emissions, cut carbon output, and dramatically decrease the amount of waste each of us produces. We need to embrace zero waste initiatives and build a circular economy—one in which local markets can reuse and repurpose recyclables. Finally, our elected officials must fight to protect our environment with common sense legislation. Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine has been a solid champion for Long Island’s environment. We need more leaders like him in addition to regulators who enforce the rules and crack down on illegal dumping.

Here at Winters Bros./WM, we are doing what we do best to contribute to our region’s efforts. From my family’s history of environmental stewardship on Long Island to WM’s cutting-edge technologies and practices, we are committed to repurposing materials, investing in renewable energies, and contributing to thriving communities.

Earth Day is a time to reflect—not just on how far we’ve come, but on how much more we must do. Each of us has a role to play in reducing our environmental footprint and protecting Long Island’s natural resources. That begins with confronting an uncomfortable truth: we generate far too much waste. Unless we take decisive action, pollution will continue to endanger our environment and our health.

Let’s each do our part and make this Earth Day the most meaningful yet.