Waste Management’s Rachel Amar Named Brooklyn Woman of Distinction

BROOKLYN, NY, June 19, 2013 – Rachel Amar, Government and Community Relations Director for Waste Management of New York, was recognized for her civic and environmental leadership at the 2013 Brooklyn Women of Distinction Awards gala on June 12.

Rachel was among 25 Brooklyn women honored for community and public service at the event organized by Community Newspaper Group. The honorees were selected by a panel of judges and included activists, business executives, entrepreneurs, educators, government officials and not-for-profit leaders from across the borough.

At Waste Management of New York, Rachel works on sustainability programs with community and educational groups in Brooklyn and across New York City. Under her leadership, the company collaborated with the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway Initiative to support sustainability education at The Green School, Williamsburg’s public high school dedicated to environmental awareness and careers.  Rachel also coordinated Waste Management’s involvement with the Grand Street Campus, the Brooklyn Arbor School, P.S. 84’s Greenhouse, the Greenpoint YMCA’s “green bean” program, and the Town Square Alliance to promote environmental stewardship.

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last Fall, Rachel helped organize a coalition of business and community groups to clean up oceanfront neighborhoods in the Rockaways, which were devastated by flooding.  The team mobilized over 140 volunteers for the event and removed over 22 tons of refuse from the area.  

“I am honored to accept this recognition on behalf of Waste Management,” said Rachel Amar. “We are proud to be part of Brooklyn and are committed to working for the betterment of the communities we serve in this great borough and throughout the City of New York.”

Waste Management of New York received the company’s first Environmental Excellence Award for its work at its Harlem River Yard transfer station in the Bronx, which was the first company site in the city to be certified for restoring natural habitat by the Wildlife Habitat Council.  With Rachel’s involvement, Waste Management founded Get Green: South Bronx Earth Fest in the South Bronx with a coalition of business, civic and government organizations and also partnered with the Queens Library on environmental education programs.

Rachel serves on the boards of the Brooklyn and Queens Chambers of Commerce and the New York League of Conservation Voters and is a member of the Maspeth Kiwanis and Maspeth Chamber of Commerce.

Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.