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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-162059

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Prospectus Supplement

(To Prospectus dated September 22, 2009)

$        

 

    % Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

We are offering $         of our     % senior notes due 2022. Interest on the notes will accrue from                     , 2012 and will be payable on              and              of each year, beginning                     , 2013. The notes will mature on                     , 2022.

The notes will be the senior obligations of Waste Management, Inc. and will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by our wholly owned subsidiary, Waste Management Holdings, Inc. The notes will rank equally with all of our other senior indebtedness. The indenture under which we are issuing the notes does not restrict our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness.

We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time at the redemption prices described beginning on page S-12. If a change of control triggering event as described beginning on page S-15 occurs, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders.

Investing in the notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

		Per Note				Total
Public Offering Price(1)				%		$
Underwriting Discount				%		$
Proceeds to Us (excluding expenses)				%		$

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest from                     , 2012 if delivery occurs after that date.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to investors on or about                     , 2012 only in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System.

 

 

Joint Book-Running and Joint Lead Managers

 

Barclays		BNP PARIBAS		BofA Merrill Lynch

                    , 2012

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When making your investment decision in the notes, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement, or that the information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
Prospectus supplement
Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-5
Use of Proceeds			S-8
Capitalization			S-9
Description of Notes			S-11
Underwriting			S-23
Legal Matters			S-25
Experts			S-25
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			S-26
Prospectus
Forward-Looking Statements			1
About This Prospectus			3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference			4
Where You Can Find More Information			5
The Company			5
Risk Factors			5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			5
Use of Proceeds			5
Description of the Debt Securities			6
Description of Guarantees			13
Description of Capital Stock			14
Description of Other Securities			15
Plan of Distribution			15
Selling Securityholders			17
Legal Matters			17
Experts			17

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risk factors identified in Part 1, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 before making an investment in the notes. You should also carefully consider the risks described below, the other information set forth in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement before making an investment decision in the notes. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also materially impair our business operations. The events discussed in the risk factors included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may occur. If they do, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our securities, including the notes, could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.

Risks related to the notes

Our substantial indebtedness could impair our financial condition and our ability to fulfill our debt obligations, including our obligations under the notes.

We have substantial indebtedness. At June 30, 2012, our ratio of total debt to total capitalization was 60.2% and our total consolidated indebtedness was $9.83 billion. In addition, as of June 30, 2012, we had approximately $1.5 billion of letters of credit outstanding under our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility and letter of credit facilities. Our level of indebtedness and the covenants contained in the agreements governing our debt could have important consequences, including:

 

•

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes and our other indebtedness, which could in turn result in an event of default on such other indebtedness or the notes;

 

•

impairing our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, general corporate purposes or other purposes;

 

•

requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to debt service payments, thereby reducing the availability of cash for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, general corporate purposes or other purposes;

 

•

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

•

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have proportionately less debt; and

 

•

making us vulnerable to increases in interest rates, as $1.6 billion of our total debt as of June 30, 2012 is exposed to changes in market interest rates within the next twelve months.

We are not prohibited under the indenture governing the notes from incurring additional indebtedness. Although our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility requires us to comply with specified ratios of Total Debt to EBITDA and EBIT to Consolidated Total Interest Expense (each as defined in our revolving credit facility), as of June 30, 2012 and after giving effect to the offering of the notes, we have the ability to incur additional indebtedness while remaining in compliance with these ratios. Our incurrence of additional indebtedness would exacerbate the negative consequences mentioned above, and could adversely affect our ability to service and repay the notes.

We are a holding company and we depend upon cash distributions from our subsidiaries to service our debt.

As a holding company, we conduct our operations through our operating subsidiaries, and our only significant assets are the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to meet our cash obligations, including our obligations under the notes, depends in part upon the ability of our subsidiaries to make cash

 

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distributions to us. Any of our subsidiaries’ declaration of bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization could materially adversely affect their ability to make cash distributions to us. Additionally, the ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us is, and will continue to be, restricted by, among other limitations, applicable provisions of federal and state law and contractual provisions. Any inability of our operating subsidiaries to make dividends or distributions to us, whether by reason of financial difficulties or other restrictions, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to service and repay our debt, including the notes.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to certain of our subsidiaries’ debt and our secured debt.

While the notes will be guaranteed by WM Holdings and will rank equally with all of our and WM Holdings’ existing and future senior indebtedness, the notes will be structurally subordinated to all obligations of our subsidiaries other than WM Holdings, including trade payables of our operating subsidiaries. This means that holders of the notes will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of our operating subsidiaries on their assets and earnings. The notes will also be effectively subordinated to any secured debt we have or may incur, to the extent of the value of the assets securing that debt. The indenture governing the notes does not limit the amount of debt our subsidiaries can incur, and it permits us to incur some secured debt. Our debt balances are generally unsecured, except for capital leases and a note payable associated with our investment in federal low-income housing tax credits. The balance on such note payable as of June 30, 2012 was $164 million. As of June 30, 2012, our operating subsidiaries had $3.25 billion of indebtedness and WM Holdings had $449 million of indebtedness (excluding guarantees of $5.68 billion of our senior debt), in each case excluding intercompany loans. For a description of the ranking of the notes, see “Description of Notes — Ranking” in this prospectus supplement.

Fraudulent transfer statutes may limit your rights under the guarantee of the notes.

Our obligations under the notes will be guaranteed by our wholly owned subsidiary, WM Holdings. The guarantee may be subject to review under various laws for the protection of creditors. It is possible that the creditors of WM Holdings may challenge the guarantee as a fraudulent transfer under relevant federal and state laws. Under certain circumstances, including a finding that WM Holdings was insolvent at the time its guarantee was issued, a court could hold that the obligations of WM Holdings under the guarantee may be voided or are subordinate to other obligations of WM Holdings, or that the amount for which WM Holdings is liable under its guarantee of the notes may be limited. Different jurisdictions define “insolvency” differently, and we cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply to determine whether WM Holdings was insolvent. If a court determined that WM Holdings was insolvent on the date the guarantee of the notes was issued, or that the guarantee constituted a fraudulent transfer on another ground, the claims of creditors of WM Holdings would effectively have priority with respect to WM Holdings’ assets and earnings over the claims of the holders of the notes.

We may not have sufficient funds to purchase the notes upon a change of control triggering event, and this covenant provides limited protection to investors.

Holders of the notes may require us to purchase their notes upon a “change of control triggering event” as defined under “Description of Notes — Change of Control Offer” in this prospectus supplement. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient financial resources, or will be able to arrange sufficient financing, to pay the purchase price of the notes, particularly if a change of control event triggers a similar repurchase requirement for, or results in the acceleration of, our other then existing debt.

The change of control offer covenant is limited to the transactions specified in “Description of Notes — Change of Control Offer.” We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a change of control triggering event, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a change of control triggering event under the notes, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise materially adversely affect our capital structure or credit ratings.

 

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You may not be able to sell the notes.

The notes will be a new issue of securities. There is no existing active trading market for the notes, and a market may never develop. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange. If a market does not develop, you may be unable to resell the notes for a long time, if at all. If the notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their respective initial offering prices. Factors that could cause the notes to trade at a discount are:

 

•

increases in then prevailing interest rates;

 

•

a decline in our credit worthiness based on our business, operating results or financial condition;

 

•

weakness in the markets for similar securities; and

 

•

declining general economic conditions.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to be $          million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering that we will pay. We intend to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes to repay $400 million principal amount of our outstanding 6.375% Senior Notes when they mature in November 2012, plus accrued and unpaid interest of $12.75 million. All remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including additions to working capital and capital expenditures.

Pending application of the net proceeds as described in the paragraph immediately above, we anticipate that we will temporarily pay down approximately $200 million of short-term borrowings under our revolving credit facility used for working capital, and we may temporarily invest the remainder of the net proceeds in short-term investments. As of August 30, 2012, the outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility was $200 million and bore an interest rate of 1.42%. The maturity date of the revolving credit facility is May 9, 2016. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our revolving credit facility and, accordingly, will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. See “Underwriting” in this prospectus supplement.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and consolidated capitalization as of June 30, 2012 on an actual basis and as adjusted to give effect to the offering of the notes and the application of the estimated net proceeds as described under “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

It is important that you read the following information along with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

		June 30, 2012
		Actual				As Adjusted
		(Dollars in millions)
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	237			$
Debt:
Revolving credit facility(a)		$	300			$	300
Letter of credit facilities(a)			—				—
Canadian credit facility, net of discount (weighted average interest rate of 2.0% at June 30, 2012)(b)			112				112
Senior notes and debentures —
Maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.0% at June 30, 2012)			6,220				5,820
% Senior Notes due 2022 offered hereby (net of any unamortized discount)			—
Tax-exempt bonds maturing through 2041, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 7.4% (weighted average interest rate of 2.9% at June 30, 2012)(c)			2,722				2,722
Tax-exempt project bonds, principal payable in periodic installments, maturing through 2029, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.2% to 3.4% (weighted average interest rate of 1.4% at June 30, 2012)(d)			86				86
Capital leases and other, maturing through 2055, interest rates up to 12%			386				386
Total Debt		$	9,826			$
Equity:
Waste Management, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued		$	6			$	6
Additional paid-in capital			4,540				4,540
Retained earnings			6,771				6,771
Accumulated other comprehensive income			163				163
Treasury stock at cost, 167,283,574 shares			(5,312	)			(5,312	)
Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity			6,168				6,168
Noncontrolling interests			319				319
Total equity			6,487				6,487
Total debt and equity		$	16,313			$

 

(a)

Our $2.0 billion revolving credit facility matures May 9, 2016. Our revolving credit facility can be used for either cash borrowings or to support letters of credit and is our primary source of letter of credit capacity. Our remaining letter of credit capacity is provided under facilities with terms that extend from June 2013 to June 2015. As of June 30, 2012, we had an aggregate committed capacity of $2.5 billion for letters of credit under various credit facilities, and we had an aggregate of $1.5 billion of letters of credit outstanding thereunder. Approximately $1.0 billion of these letters of credit have been issued under our revolving credit facility.

 

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As of August 30, 2012, the outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility was $200 million. Pending application of the net proceeds as described in “Use of Proceeds,” we anticipate that we will temporarily pay down approximately $200 million of short-term borrowings under our revolving credit facility used for working capital, and we may temporarily invest the remainder of the net proceeds in short-term investments.

(b)	Waste Management of Canada Corporation, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is party to a Cdn$340 million credit facility with a maturity of November 2012 that is guaranteed by Waste Management, Inc. and WM Holdings.

(c)

We issue both fixed and floating rate tax-exempt bonds as a means of low-cost financing for capital expenditures. The proceeds from the issuances may only be used for the specific purpose for which the funds were raised, which is generally to finance expenditures for landfill construction and development, equipment, vehicles and facilities in support of our operations.

(d)	Tax-exempt project bonds are used by our Wheelabrator Group, which owns and operates waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants, to finance the development of the waste-to-energy facilities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The notes will be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of September 10, 1997, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the current successor to the initial trustee, Texas Commerce Bank National Association), as Trustee. We will issue the notes pursuant to a resolution of our Board of Directors and accompanying officers’ certificate setting forth the specific terms applicable to the notes.

This Description of Notes is intended to be an overview of the material provisions of the notes and is intended to supplement, and to the extent of any inconsistency replace, the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus, to which we refer you. Since this Description of Notes is only a summary, you should refer to the Indenture and the notes, a copy of which is available from us, for a complete description of our obligations and your rights.

The Notes. The notes will:

 

•

be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

•

constitute a new series of debt securities issued under the Indenture and will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $        million;

 

•

mature on                     , 2022;

 

•

be unconditionally guaranteed by our wholly owned subsidiary WM Holdings;

 

•

not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund;

 

•

be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

•

be issued only in book-entry form represented by global notes registered initially in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC.

Interest. Interest will:

 

•

accrue on the notes at the rate of     % per annum;

 

•

accrue from                     , 2012 or the most recent interest payment date;

 

•

be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on                      and                      of each year, beginning on                     , 2013;

 

•

be payable to holders of record on the                      and                      immediately preceding the related interest payment dates; and

 

•

be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Payment and transfer

Beneficial interests in notes in global form will be shown on, and transfers of interests in notes in global form will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants. Notes in definitive form, if any, may be registered, exchanged or transferred at the office or agency maintained by us for such purpose (which initially will be the corporate trust office of The Bank of New York Mellon, located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York 10286).

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on notes in global form registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee will be made in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global note. If any of the notes are no longer represented by global notes, payment of interest on the notes in definitive form may, at our option, be made at the corporate trust office of

 

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The Bank of New York Mellon, by check mailed directly to registered holders at their registered addresses or by wire transfer to an account designated by a registered holder.

No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. We are not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption for a period beginning 15 days before selection of notes to be redeemed and ending on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

Optional redemption

Before the date that is three months prior to the maturity date, the notes will be redeemable and repayable, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to the greater of:

 

•

100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; or

 

•

the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of calculation of the redemption price) on the notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Yield plus          basis points;

plus, in either case, accrued interest to the date of redemption.

On or after the date that is three months prior to the maturity date, the notes will be redeemable and repayable, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed plus accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption.

Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. Notices of redemption will be mailed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the notes will state, among other things, the amount of notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price or, if not ascertainable, the manner of determining the redemption price and the place(s) that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date. Notes called for redemption will be redeemed and repaid in principal amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. If less than all the notes are redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the notes to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or by any other method the Trustee deems fair and appropriate.

The factors that we generally consider in determining whether to redeem notes are (1) whether the current rates on new notes would be considerably less than the interest rates on the notes to be redeemed after consideration of any make-whole provision, (2) whether we have excess cash on hand and decide to reduce debt levels and (3) whether we are involved in a substantial merger or acquisition in which it becomes necessary to redeem the notes because of a debt restructuring agreement. However, given the substantial expense we would incur in redeeming the notes due to the calculation of the redemption price described above, we do not believe that we would redeem the notes in the ordinary course of our business before three months prior to the maturity date. We are currently unaware of any circumstances under which we would redeem the notes.

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

“Treasury Yield” means, with respect to any redemption date applicable to the notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day

 

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immediately preceding the redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.

“Independent Investment Banker” means any of Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (and their respective successors), or, if all of such firms are unwilling or unable to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee and reasonably acceptable to us.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Trustee for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained by the Trustee.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) each of Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (and their respective successors), unless any of them ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), in which case we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date for the notes, an average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for such notes (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Except as set forth above, the notes will not be redeemable by us prior to maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

Defeasance

The notes will be subject to legal defeasance and to covenant defeasance as provided under “Description of Debt Securities — Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture — Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Satisfaction and discharge

Upon our written request, the Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the notes and as otherwise expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all outstanding notes, when:

(1) either:

(a) all the notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed notes which have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and at our expense,

 

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and we have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee trust funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such notes to the date of such deposit (in the case of notes already due and payable) or to the date of stated maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) we have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by us; and

(3) we have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied with.

Ranking

The notes will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations, and will rank equally in contractual right of payment with all of our other existing and future senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. We have issued multiple series of debt securities under the Indenture, and in the future, from time to time, we may issue additional debt securities under the Indenture in separate series, each up to the aggregate amount authorized for such series, or we may reopen an existing series of debt securities under the Indenture by issuing further debt securities of the same series with substantially the same terms. See “— Further Issuances” in this prospectus supplement.

We currently conduct substantially all our operations through our operating subsidiaries, and those subsidiaries generate substantially all our operating income and cash flow. As a result, distributions or advances from our operating subsidiaries are the principal source of funds necessary to meet our debt service obligations. Contractual provisions or laws, as well as our operating subsidiaries’ financial condition and operating requirements, may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries that we require to pay our debt service obligations, including payments on the notes. While the notes will be guaranteed by WM Holdings and will rank equally with all of our and WM Holdings’ existing and future senior indebtedness, the notes will be structurally subordinated to all obligations of our subsidiaries other than WM Holdings, including trade payables of our operating subsidiaries. This means that holders of the notes will have a junior position to the claims of creditors of our operating subsidiaries on their assets and earnings. The notes will also be effectively subordinated to any secured debt we may incur, to the extent of the value of the assets securing that debt. The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt our subsidiaries can incur, and it permits us to incur some secured debt. For a description of the limitations on our ability to incur secured debt, see “Description of Debt Securities — Provisions Applicable Solely to Senior Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus.

As of June 30, 2012, our operating subsidiaries had $3.25 billion of indebtedness and WM Holdings had $449 million of indebtedness (excluding guarantees of $5.68 billion of our senior debt), in each case excluding intercompany loans.

Guarantee

WM Holdings will unconditionally guarantee our obligations under the notes. The guarantee will be a general, unsecured obligation of WM Holdings and will rank equally in contractual right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of WM Holdings from time to time outstanding. In an attempt to limit the applicability of fraudulent transfer laws, the guarantee limits the amount of the guarantee to the amount that will result in the guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or improper corporate distribution.

The guarantee of the notes shall be binding on WM Holdings, its successors and assigns, and shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of holders of the notes until the earliest to occur of:

 

•

the consolidation or merger of WM Holdings into Waste Management or its successor;

 

•

the consolidation or merger of Waste Management or its successor into WM Holdings;

 

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•

payment in full of all interest and principal due on the notes; or

 

•

the release of the guarantees by WM Holdings of obligations of Waste Management under its credit facilities (or any replacement or new principal credit facility). Our credit facilities currently state that WM Holdings’ guarantees under the facilities can only be released with the written consent of each of the lenders that is a party thereto.

Change of control offer

If a change of control triggering event occurs, unless we have exercised our option to redeem the notes as described above, we will be required to make an offer (a “change of control offer”) to each holder of the notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes on the terms set forth in such notes. In a change of control offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased (a “change of control payment”), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase, subject to the right of holders of record on the applicable record date to receive interest due on the next interest payment date.

Within 30 days following any change of control triggering event or, at our option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control, a notice will be mailed to holders of the notes describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase such notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (a “change of control payment date”). The notice may, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, state that the change of control offer is conditioned on the change of control triggering event occurring on or prior to the applicable change of control payment date.

Upon the change of control payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

 

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accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the change of control offer;

 

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deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the change of control payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

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deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased.

We will not be required to make a change of control offer upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and the third party repurchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the change of control payment date an event of default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the change of control payment upon a change of control triggering event.

We will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a change of control triggering event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control offer provisions of the notes, we will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the change of control offer provisions of the notes by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:

“change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more

 

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series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than our company or one of our subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our outstanding voting stock or other voting stock into which our voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of our voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the voting stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of our Board of Directors are not continuing directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution.

Notwithstanding the preceding, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a change of control under clause (2) above if (i) we become a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the voting stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of our voting stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

The definition of “change of control” includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise, established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the applicability of the requirement that we offer to repurchase the notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another person may be uncertain.

“change of control triggering event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event.

“continuing directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of our Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date the notes were issued or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc. and its successors.

“investment grade rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

“rating agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

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“rating event” means the rating on the notes is lowered by at least two of the three rating agencies and the notes are rated below an investment grade rating by at least two of the three rating agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing 60 days prior to the first public notice of the occurrence of a change of control or our intention to effect a change of control and ending 60 days following consummation of such change of control.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

“voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Certain covenants

Certain covenants in the Indenture limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

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create, incur or assume debt secured by liens;

 

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enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and

 

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merge, consolidate or transfer all or substantially all of our assets.

For a description of these covenants, see “Description of Debt Securities — Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture — Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and “— Provisions Applicable Solely to Senior Debt Securities — Restrictive Covenants” in the accompanying prospectus.

Further issuances

We may from time to time, without notice or the consent of the registered holders of the notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally and ratably with the notes in all respects (or in all respects except for the issue date, the initial interest payment date, if applicable, and the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further notes), so that such further notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with the notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the notes. We may at any time purchase notes in the open market or otherwise at any price.

Book-entry systems

We will issue the notes in the form of one or more fully registered global notes, without coupons, each of which we refer to as a “global note.” Each such global note will be registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. Unless and until definitive notes are issued, all references to actions by holders of notes issued in global form refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references to payments and notices to the holders refer to payments and notices to the nominee of DTC as the registered holder of the offered notes.

Where appropriate, links will be established among DTC, Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the Euroclear Operator, as an operator of the Euroclear System, or Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking S.A., or Clearstream, to facilitate the initial issuance of any notes sold outside of the United States and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the procedures described below in order to facilitate transfers of global notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the Trustee or any registrar and transfer agent with respect to the notes

 

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will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream or any of their respective direct or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing DTC’s, Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s operations.

While the following information concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information.

DTC

DTC has advised us and the underwriters as follows:

 

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DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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DTC holds securities for its participating organizations, referred to as “direct DTC participants,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry changes in direct DTC participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.

 

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Direct DTC participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to others, referred to as “indirect DTC participants,” for example, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct DTC participant, either directly or indirectly.

 

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DTC is owned by The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which is owned by a number of its direct participants and by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NYSE Alternext US LLC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

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The rules applicable to DTC and its direct and indirect participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through direct DTC participants, which will receive a credit for the notes in DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of notes is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect DTC participants’ records. Beneficial owners of the notes will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect DTC participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect DTC participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct DTC participants are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct DTC participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect DTC participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct DTC participants, by direct DTC participants to indirect DTC participants, and by direct DTC participants and indirect DTC participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities which they own. Consequently, those persons may be prohibited from purchasing beneficial interests in the global notes from any beneficial owner or otherwise.

So long as DTC’s nominee is the registered owner of the global notes, such nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, beneficial owners will not be entitled to have any of the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct DTC participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

All payments on the global notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct DTC participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from trustees or issuers on payment dates in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, the Trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) shall be the responsibility of the Trustee or us, disbursement of such payments to direct DTC participants shall be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners shall be the responsibility of direct and indirect DTC participants.

DTC may discontinue providing its service as securities depositary with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the Trustee. In addition, we may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). Under those circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, note certificates in fully registered form are required to be printed and delivered to beneficial owners of the global notes representing such notes.

Neither Waste Management, the Trustee nor the underwriters will have any responsibility or obligation to direct DTC participants, or the persons for whom they act as nominees, with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC, its nominee or any direct DTC participant with respect to any ownership interest in the notes, or payments to, or the providing of notice to direct DTC participants or beneficial owners.

So long as the notes are in DTC’s book-entry system, secondary market trading activity in the notes will settle in immediately available funds. We will make all applicable payments on the notes issued as global notes in immediately available funds.

Euroclear

Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and risk from lack of simultaneous

 

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transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements for cross-market transfers with DTC.

Euroclear is operated by the Euroclear Operator under a contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems, S.C., a Belgian cooperative, or the “cooperative.” The Euroclear Operator conducts all operations, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the cooperative. The cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement or one or more of their affiliates. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect DTC participant.

The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank, which is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

The Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear, the related Operating Procedures of Euroclear and applicable Belgian law govern securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Specifically, these terms and conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawal of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear.

All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the terms and conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding securities through Euroclear participants.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with Euroclear’s terms and conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator and by Euroclear.

Euroclear will record the ownership interests of its participants in much the same way as does DTC. If DTC is the depositary for the notes, it will record the total ownership of the notes of the U.S. agent of Euroclear as a participant in DTC. When the notes are to be transferred from the account of a direct DTC participant to the account of a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Euroclear through a Euroclear participant at least one day prior to settlement. Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to receive the notes against payment. After settlement, Euroclear will credit its participant’s account with the interest in the notes purchased. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).

In instances in which the notes are held by DTC or its nominee, settlement will take place during New York business hours. Direct DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending the notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the direct DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two direct DTC participants.

When a Euroclear participant wishes to transfer the notes to a direct DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Euroclear through a Euroclear participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back-valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Euroclear participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

 

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You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Euroclear on the days when Euroclear is open for business. Euroclear may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences, problems may occur when completing transactions involving Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States.

Clearstream

Clearstream was incorporated as a limited liability company under Luxembourg law. Clearstream is owned by the Deutsche Börse Group. The shareholders of this entity are banks, securities dealers and financial institutions. Clearstream holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream customers through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream customers, thus eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its customers, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities, securities lending and borrowing and collateral management. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in a number of countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the Euroclear Operator to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.

As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. In the United States, Clearstream participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks, and may include the underwriters of the securities offered by means of this prospectus supplement or one or more of their affiliates. Other institutions that maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant may obtain indirect access to Clearstream. Clearstream is an indirect DTC participant.

Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.

Clearstream will record the ownership interests of its participants in much the same way as does DTC. If DTC is the depositary for the notes, it will record the total ownership of the notes of the U.S. agent of Clearstream as a participant in DTC. When the notes are to be transferred from the account of a direct DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream through a Clearstream participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream will instruct its U.S. agent to receive the notes against payment. After settlement, Clearstream will credit its participant’s account with the interest in the notes. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).

In instances in which the notes are held by DTC or its nominee, settlement will take place during New York business hours. Direct DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending the notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the direct DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two direct DTC participants.

When a Clearstream participant wishes to transfer the notes to a direct DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream through a Clearstream participant at least one business day prior to settlement. In these cases, Clearstream will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream participant the following day, with the proceeds back-valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

 

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You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream on the days when Clearstream is open for business. Clearstream may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time zone differences, problems may occur when completing transactions involving Clearstream on the same business day as in the United States.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as joint book-running and joint lead managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters named below.

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, the principal amount of the notes set forth opposite the respective underwriters’ names.

 

Underwriters				Principal Amount of Notes
Barclays Capital Inc.				$
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                      Incorporated
Total				$

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes.

The underwriters propose to offer the notes directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the notes to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed     % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed     % of the principal amount of the notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public offering price and other selling terms applicable to the notes.

In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal amount of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the representatives, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase notes originally sold by that syndicate member.

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the price of the notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

We estimate that our total expenses (not including the underwriting discount) for this offering will be $800,000.

 

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We have agreed that we will not offer to sell any of our debt securities (other than the notes, bank borrowings and commercial paper) for a period of 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without the prior written consent of the representatives.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

We expect delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about                     , 2012, which is the fifth business day following the date of pricing of the notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+5”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of pricing of the notes or the next succeeding business day will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisers.

Relationships

Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, investment banking and commercial services for us, for which they have received or will receive customary fees and expense reimbursements. In addition, certain affiliates of Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are lenders under our revolving credit facility and, accordingly, will receive a portion of the proceeds from this offering.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling restrictions

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

1) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

2) to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representative or representatives nominated by us for any such offer; or

 

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3) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of notes shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the expression “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information of the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State; “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State; and the term “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

Each underwriter has also agreed that: (i) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”), with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and (ii) it has only communicated, or caused to be communicated, and will only communicate, or cause to be communicated, an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas, and for the underwriters by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. represents us from time to time in matters unrelated to this offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Waste Management, Inc. appearing in Waste Management, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2011, including the schedule appearing therein, and the effectiveness of Waste Management, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

This prospectus supplement incorporates documents by reference which are not presented in or delivered with this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from or in addition to the information contained in this document and incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

We incorporate information into this prospectus supplement by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

SEC Filing (Our SEC File Number is 1-12154)		Date Filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011		February 16, 2012
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012		April 26, 2012
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012		July 26, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K		March 14, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K		May 14, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K		June 22, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K		July 5, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K (except for the information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02)		July 26, 2012
Current Report on Form 8-K		August 28, 2012

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus supplement until all of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement have been issued as described in this prospectus supplement. We are not incorporating by reference any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) in any past or future current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, unless otherwise specified in such current report.

You may obtain copies of any of these filings through Waste Management as described below, or through the SEC or through the SEC’s Internet website as described below. Documents incorporated by reference are available without charge, excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, by requesting them in writing, by telephone or via the Internet at:

Waste Management, Inc.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4000

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Corporate Secretary

713-512-6200

www.wm.com

 

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PROSPECTUS

 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.

DEBT SECURITIES

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

WARRANTS

GUARANTEES

UNITS

We or selling securityholders may from time to time offer to sell the securities listed above in one or more classes or series in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of the offering.

Each time we or a selling securityholder sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the specific terms of the securities offered. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WM.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus, the risk factors included in our periodic reports that we file with the Securities Exchange Commission and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

This prospectus is dated September 22, 2009

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If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Forward-Looking Statements			1
About this Prospectus			3
Incorporation by Reference			4
Where You Can Find More Information			5
The Company			5
Risk Factors			5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges			5
Use of Proceeds			5
Description of Debt Securities			6
Description of Guarantees			13
Description of Capital Stock			14
Description of Other Securities			15
Plan of Distribution			15
Selling Securityholders			17
Legal Matters			17
Experts			17

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or expressions or the negative of these terms. Such statements are only predictions and, accordingly, are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

Many factors could affect our actual results, and variances from our current expectations regarding these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We presently consider the factors set forth below to be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our published expectations. A more detailed discussion of these factors, as well as other factors that could affect our results, is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. However, management cannot predict all factors, or combinations of factors, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Factors that we currently believe could cause our results to be different from our expectations include:

 

Ÿ

continued volatility and further deterioration in the credit markets, inflation, higher interest rates and other general and local economic conditions may negatively affect the volumes of waste generated, our liquidity, our financing costs and other expenses;

 

Ÿ

economic conditions may negatively affect parties with whom we do business, which could result in late payments or the uncollectability of receivables as well as the non-performance of certain agreements, including expected funding under our credit agreement, which could negatively impact our liquidity and results of operations;

 

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Ÿ

competition may negatively affect our profitability or cash flows, our price increases may have negative effects on volumes, and price roll-backs and lower than average pricing to retain and attract customers may negatively affect our average yield on collection and disposal business;

 

Ÿ

we may be unable to maintain or expand margins if we are unable to control costs or raise prices;

 

Ÿ

we may not be able to successfully execute or continue our operational or other margin improvement plans and programs, including: pricing increases; passing on increased costs to our customers; reducing costs; and divesting under-performing assets and purchasing accretive businesses, any failures of which could negatively affect our revenues and margins;

 

Ÿ

weather conditions cause our quarter-to-quarter results to fluctuate, and harsh weather or natural disasters may cause us to temporarily shut down operations;

 

Ÿ

possible changes in our estimates of costs for site remediation requirements, final capping, closure and post-closure obligations, compliance and regulatory developments may increase our expenses;

 

Ÿ

regulations may negatively impact our business by, among other things, restricting our operations, increasing costs of operations or requiring additional capital expenditures;

 

Ÿ

climate change legislation, including possible limits on carbon emissions, may negatively impact our results of operations by increasing expenses related to tracking, measuring and reporting our greenhouse gas emissions and increasing operating costs and capital expenditures that may be required to comply with any such legislation;

 

Ÿ

if we are unable to obtain and maintain permits needed to open, operate, and/or expand our facilities, our results of operations will be negatively impacted;

 

Ÿ

limitations or bans on disposal or transportation of out-of-state, cross-border, or certain categories of waste, as well as mandates on the disposal of waste, can increase our expenses and reduce our revenue;

 

Ÿ

fuel price increases or fuel supply shortages may increase our expenses or restrict our ability to operate;

 

Ÿ

increased costs or the inability to obtain financial assurance or the inadequacy of our insurance coverages could negatively impact our liquidity and increase our liabilities;

 

Ÿ

possible charges as a result of shut-down operations, uncompleted development or expansion projects or other events may negatively affect earnings;

 

Ÿ

fluctuations in commodity prices may have negative effects on our operating results;

 

Ÿ

trends requiring recycling, waste reduction at the source and prohibiting the disposal of certain types of waste could have negative effects on volumes of waste going to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities;

 

Ÿ

efforts by labor unions to organize our employees may increase operating expenses and we may be unable to negotiate acceptable collective bargaining agreements with those who have chosen to be represented by unions, which could lead to labor disruptions, including strikes and lock-outs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows;

 

Ÿ

negative outcomes of litigation or threatened litigation or governmental proceedings may increase our costs, limit our ability to conduct or expand our operations, or limit our ability to execute our business plans and strategies;

 

Ÿ

problems with the operation of our current information technology or the development and deployment of new information systems could decrease our efficiencies and increase our costs;

 

Ÿ

the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations may cause fluctuations in reported quarterly results of operations or adversely impact our reported results of operations; and

 

Ÿ

we may reduce or permanently eliminate our dividend or share repurchase program, reduce capital spending or cease acquisitions if cash flows are less than we expect and we are not able to obtain capital needed to refinance our debt obligations, including near-term maturities, on acceptable terms.

 

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Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after the date of this prospectus.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. We may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus from time to time up to an indeterminate dollar amount, in one or more offerings.

The types of securities that we or selling securityholders may offer and sell from time to time pursuant to this prospectus are:

 

Ÿ

debt securities;

 

Ÿ

common stock;

 

Ÿ

preferred stock;

 

Ÿ

warrants;

 

Ÿ

guarantees; and

 

Ÿ

units consisting of any of the securities listed above.

Each time we or selling securityholders sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement, which will be delivered with this prospectus, specific information about the offering and the terms of the particular securities offered. In each prospectus supplement we will include the following information, if applicable:

 

Ÿ

the type and amount of securities that we or selling securityholders propose to sell;

 

Ÿ

the initial public offering price of the securities;

 

Ÿ

the names of any underwriters or agents through or to which we or selling securityholders will sell the securities;

 

Ÿ

any compensation of those underwriters or agents; and

 

Ÿ

information about any securities exchanges or automated quotation systems on which the securities will be listed or traded.

In addition, the prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the headings “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Wherever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules or regulations, we may instead include such information or add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus (i) by means of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part; (ii) through filings we make with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus; or (iii) by any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules or regulations.

 

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED IN OR DELIVERED WITH THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM OR IN ADDITION TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS.

We incorporate information into this prospectus by reference, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except to the extent superseded by information contained herein or by information contained in documents filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about us and our financial condition.

 

SEC Filing (Our SEC File Number is 1-1254)		Date Filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2009 annual meeting of stockholders incorporated by reference therein) for the year ended December 31, 2008		February 17, 2009
Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009		April 29, 2009
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009		July 30, 2009
Current Report on Form 8-K		February 26, 2009
Current Report on Form 8-K		February 27, 2009
Current Report on Form 8-K		March 2, 2009
Current Report on Form 8-K		May 12, 2009
Description of our Common Stock on Form 8-B		July 13, 1995

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been issued as described in this prospectus. These documents may include annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements. We are not incorporating by reference any information furnished under items 2.02 or 7.01 (or corresponding information furnished under item 9.01 or included as an exhibit) in any past or future current report on Form 8-K that we may file with the SEC, unless otherwise specified in such current report.

You may obtain copies of any of these filings through Waste Management as described below, or through the SEC or through the SEC’s Internet website as described below. Documents incorporated by reference are available without charge, excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, by requesting them in writing, by telephone or via the Internet at:

Waste Management, Inc.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4000

Houston, Texas 77002

Attn: Corporate Secretary

713-512-6200

www.wm.com

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR WEBSITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PART OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these materials at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains information we have filed electronically with the SEC, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities we may offer. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its Internet site.

THE COMPANY

We are the leading provider of integrated waste services in North America. Using our vast network of assets and employees, we provide a comprehensive range of waste management services. Through our subsidiaries we provide collection, transfer, recycling, disposal and waste-to-energy services. In providing these services, we actively pursue projects and initiatives that we believe make a positive difference for our environment, including recovering and processing the methane gas produced naturally by landfills into a renewable energy source. Our customers include commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers, other waste management companies, electric utilities and governmental entities.

Our principal executive offices are located at 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4000, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number is (713) 512-6200.

RISK FACTORS

Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risk. Before acquiring any such securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009

Year Ended December 31,

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

3.9x

4.5x

4.0x

3.5x

3.2x

3.5x

For the purposes of computing these ratios, earnings represents income before income taxes and losses in equity investments plus interest expense and implicit interest in rent expense. Fixed charges consists of interest expense, capitalized interest and implicit interest in rent expense.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, refinancing existing indebtedness, capital expenditures and possible acquisitions. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by selling securityholders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

The debt securities covered by this prospectus will be our general unsecured obligations. We will issue senior debt securities on a senior unsecured basis under an indenture, dated as of September 10, 1997, among Waste Management, as issuer, and Texas Commerce Bank National Association (now known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee. We will issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture dated as of February 1, 1997, among Waste Management, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. The indentures are substantially identical, except for provisions relating to subordination and covenants.

We have summarized material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities below. This summary is not complete, and is subject, and qualified in its entirety by reference, to all the provisions of the applicable indenture, including the definition of certain terms. We have filed the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be important to you. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of any debt securities offered by this prospectus. The particular terms of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those offered debt securities.

Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture

General.    Neither indenture limits the amount of debt securities that may be issued under that indenture, and neither limits the amount of other unsecured debt or securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the indentures from time to time in one or more series, each in an amount authorized prior to issuance.

Terms.    The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

Ÿ

whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities;

 

Ÿ

the title of the debt securities;

 

Ÿ

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

Ÿ

whether the debt securities will be issued in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of holders;

 

Ÿ

the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable;

 

Ÿ

any interest rate, the date from which interest will accrue, interest payment dates and record dates for interest payments;

 

Ÿ

any right to extend or defer the interest payment periods and the duration of the extension;

 

Ÿ

whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities will be payable;

 

Ÿ

the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable;

 

Ÿ

any provisions for optional redemption or early repayment;

 

Ÿ

any provisions that would require the redemption, purchase or repayment of debt securities;

 

Ÿ

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

Ÿ

whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in foreign currency or currency units or another form and whether payments will be payable by reference to any index or formula;

 

Ÿ

the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable if the maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount;

 

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Ÿ

any additional means of defeasance of the debt securities, any additional conditions or limitations to defeasance of the debt securities or any changes to those conditions or limitations;

 

Ÿ

any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this prospectus;

 

Ÿ

any restrictions or other provisions relating to the transfer or exchange of debt securities;

 

Ÿ

any terms for the conversion or exchange of the debt securities for other securities of Waste Management or any other entity;

 

Ÿ

with respect to the subordinated indenture, any changes to the subordination provisions for the subordinated debt securities; and

 

Ÿ

any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the applicable indenture.

We may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be substantial, below their stated principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates. If we sell these debt securities, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations.

If we sell any of the debt securities for any foreign currency or currency unit or if payments on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information relating to those debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.    The indentures generally prohibit a consolidation or merger of Waste Management into another person, or a lease, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets to another person unless:

 

Ÿ

the resulting person formed or into which Waste Management is merged or the person which acquires all or substantially all of our assets assumes the performance of the covenants and obligations under the indentures and the due and punctual payments on the debt securities; and

 

Ÿ

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default would occur and be continuing or would result from the transaction.

Upon any such consolidation, merger or asset lease, transfer or disposition, the resulting entity or transferee will be substituted for us under the applicable indenture and debt securities. In the case of an asset transfer or disposition other than a lease, we will be released from the applicable indenture.

Events of Default.    Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

Ÿ

failure to pay interest on that series of debt securities for 30 days when due;

 

Ÿ

failure to pay principal of or any premium on that series of debt securities when due;

 

Ÿ

failure to deposit into any sinking fund when due;

 

Ÿ

failure to comply with any covenant or agreement in that series of debt securities or the applicable indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of other series of debt securities) for 60 days after written notice by the trustee in the case of the senior indenture and for 90 days after written notice by the trustee in the case of the subordinated indenture or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture that are affected by that failure;

 

Ÿ

specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

Ÿ

any other event of default provided for that series of debt securities.

If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default may

 

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declare the principal of and all accrued and unpaid interest on those debt securities to be due and payable. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected by the default may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment requirement.

A holder of a debt security of any series issued under an indenture may pursue any remedy under that indenture only if:

 

Ÿ

the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default for that series;

 

Ÿ

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

Ÿ

the holders offer to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee;

 

Ÿ

the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of the request and offer of indemnity; and

 

Ÿ

during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder of a debt security to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment.

In most cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series (or of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may direct the time, method and place of:

 

Ÿ

conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; and

 

Ÿ

exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee relating to or arising as a result of an event of default.

The indentures require us to file each year with the trustee a written statement as to our compliance with the covenants contained in the applicable indenture.

Modification and Waiver.    Each indenture may be amended or supplemented if the majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under that indenture that are affected by the amendment or supplement (acting as one class) consent to it. However, the subordinated indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any outstanding subordinated securities without the consent of each holder of senior debt then outstanding that would be adversely affected by the amendment. Additionally, without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected, no modification may:

 

Ÿ

reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

Ÿ

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt security;

 

Ÿ

reduce the principal of the debt security or change its stated maturity;

 

Ÿ

reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt security or change the time at which the debt security may or must be redeemed;

 

Ÿ

change any obligation to pay additional amounts on the debt security;

 

Ÿ

change any obligation for us to maintain a paying agency;

 

Ÿ

make payments on the debt security payable in currency other than as originally stated in the debt security;

 

Ÿ

impair the holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the debt security;

 

Ÿ

make any change in the percentage of principal amount of debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to make any change in the provision related to modification; or

 

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adversely affect the right to convert subordinated debt securities, if applicable.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture, voting as one class) may waive any existing or past default or event of default with respect to those debt securities. Those holders may not, however, waive any

 

Ÿ

default or event of default in any payment on any debt security; or

 

Ÿ

compliance with a provision that cannot be amended or supplemented without the consent of each holder affected.

Defeasance.    When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indentures. If any combination of funds or government securities are deposited with the trustee under an indenture sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of a series issued under that indenture on the dates those payments are due and payable, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:

 

Ÿ

we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series and, if applicable, the related guarantees (“legal defeasance”); or

 

Ÿ

we will no longer have any obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants, the merger covenant and other specified covenants under the applicable indenture, and the related events of default will no longer apply (“covenant defeasance”).

If a series of debt securities is defeased, the holders of the debt securities of the series affected will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, maintain paying agencies, hold moneys for payment in trust and, in the case of subordinated debt securities, no defeasance will affect our obligations respecting the conversion of debt securities into Common Stock. In the case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities will also survive.

Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.

Governing Law.    New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities.

Trustee.    The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is the trustee under the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. serves as trustee or custodian relating to a number of series of debt obligations of Waste Management as of December 31, 2008. Certain of The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.’s affiliates perform certain commercial banking services for us for which they receive customary fees and act as a lender under our current credit facility.

If an event of default occurs under an indenture and is continuing, the trustee under that indenture will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of that person’s own affairs. The trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under that indenture at the request of any of the holders of any debt securities issued under that indenture only after those holders have offered the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.

Each indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, if it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims or to realize on certain property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict or resign.

Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer.    The debt securities may be issued in registered form, without interest coupons, or in bearer form, with interest coupons attached, or both, as described in the prospectus supplement. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities. However, payment of any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable for that registration may be required.

 

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Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we designate. The security registrar or transfer agent will affect the transfer or exchange if its requirements and the requirements of the applicable indenture are met.

The trustee will be appointed as security registrar for the debt securities. If a prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents we initially designate, we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We are required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.

In the case of any redemption, we will not be required to register the transfer or exchange of:

 

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any debt security during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or repurchase and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of such notice; or

 

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any debt security that has been called for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

Payment and Paying Agents.    Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, payments on the debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee and any paying agent. At our option, however, payments may be made by wire transfer for global debt securities or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security register. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, interest payments may be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the trustee under the applicable indenture will be designated as the paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

If the principal of or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series is payable on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the following business day. For these purposes, unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, a “business day” is any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in any of New York, New York; Houston, Texas or a place of payment on the debt securities of that series is authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.

Book-Entry Debt Securities.    The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the prospectus supplement. Global debt securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt security.

Provisions Applicable Solely to Senior Debt Securities

Ranking and Guarantee.    The senior debt securities will constitute senior debt of Waste Management and will rank equally with all of the other series of debt securities issued under the senior indenture and will rank senior to all series of subordinated securities issued and outstanding from time to time. However, if the senior debt securities are not guaranteed by Waste Management Holdings, then such securities will be structurally subordinated to all senior debt that is so guaranteed. If provided in a prospectus supplement, Waste Management

 

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Holdings may fully and unconditionally guarantee on a senior unsecured basis the full and prompt payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the senior debt securities issued by Waste Management when and as the payment becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or otherwise.

Restrictive Covenants.    We have agreed to two principal restrictions on our activities for the benefit of holders of the senior debt securities. The restrictive covenants summarized below will apply to a series of senior debt securities (unless waived or amended) as long as any of those debt securities are outstanding, unless the prospectus supplement for the series states otherwise. We have used in this summary description capitalized terms that we have defined below under “Glossary.”

Limitation on Liens

We have agreed that we and our Restricted Subsidiaries will create, issue, incur or assume Indebtedness secured by a lien upon a Principal Property only if the outstanding senior debt securities are secured equally and ratably with or prior to the Indebtedness secured by that lien. This covenant has exceptions that permit:

(a) liens on the property or assets existing at the time of acquisition which secure obligations assumed by us or our Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) conditional sales agreements with respect to any property or assets acquired by us or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(c) liens on the property, assets or stock of an entity at the time the entity is merged into or consolidated with us or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time the entity becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

(d) liens on the property, assets or stock of an entity that becomes us in accordance with “Provisions Applicable to Debt Securities — Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets,” above;

(e) liens on assets either:

 

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existing at the time of, or created within 360 days after, the acquisition of the assets, or

 

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securing Indebtedness incurred to finance all or part of the purchase price of the assets or the cost of constructing, improving, developing or expanding the assets that was incurred before, at the time of, or created within 360 days after, the later of the completion of construction, improvement, development or expansion or the commencement of commercial operation of the assets;

(f) intercompany liens;

(g) mechanics’, materialmen’s and like liens incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(h) liens arising by deposits or security given to governmental agencies required in order to do business with the government;

(i) liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith;

(j) liens in connection with legal proceedings so long as the proceeding is being contested in good faith or execution thereon is stayed;

(k) landlord’s liens on fixtures located on property leased by us or Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(l) liens in favor of any governmental authority in connection with the financing of the cost of construction or acquisition of property;

(m) liens arising due to deposits to qualify us or a Restricted Subsidiary to do business, maintain self-insurance or obtain the benefit of or comply with laws;

(n) liens securing industrial development, pollution control or other revenue bonds of a domestic government entity;

(o) liens arising in connection with the sale of accounts receivable; and

 

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(p) any extensions, substitutions, replacements or renewals of the above-described liens or any Indebtedness secured by these liens if the lien is limited to the property (plus any improvements) secured by the original lien.

In addition, without securing the senior debt securities as described above, we and our Restricted Subsidiaries may issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness that this covenant would otherwise restrict in a total principal amount that, when added to all other outstanding Indebtedness that this covenant would otherwise restrict and the total amount of Attributable Debt outstanding for Sale/Leaseback Transactions, does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. When calculating this total principal amount, we exclude from the calculation Attributable Debt from Sale/Leaseback Transactions in connection with which we have purchased property or retired or defeased Indebtedness as described in clause (b) below under “Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions.”

Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions

Unless provided otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we and our Restricted Subsidiaries will not enter into a Sale/Leaseback Transaction unless at least one of the following applies:

(a) we or that Restricted Subsidiary could incur Indebtedness in a principal amount equal to the Attributable Debt for that Sale/Leaseback Transaction and, without violating the “Limitation on Liens” covenant, could secure that debt by a lien on the property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the senior debt securities;

(b) within 180 days after the effective date of any Sale/Leaseback Transaction, we will apply the net proceeds of the Sale/Leaseback Transaction to the voluntary defeasance or retirement of any senior debt securities issued under the senior indenture or to the acquisition or capital improvement of a Principal Property; or

(c) within 180 days after entering into the Sale/Leaseback Transaction, we have entered into a commitment to expend for the acquisition or capital improvement of a Principal Property an amount equal to the fair value (as determined by our Board of Directors) of the property to be leased.

Notwithstanding the above, we and our Restricted Subsidiaries may effect a Sale/Leaseback Transaction that is not allowable under the clauses above provided that the Attributable Debt associated with the transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of debt secured by liens on Principal Property not acceptable under the “Limitation on Liens” covenant, do not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Glossary

“Attributable Debt” means the present value of the rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in the Sale/Leaseback Transaction. To determine that present value, we use a discount rate equal to the lease rate of the Sale/Leaseback Transaction. For these purposes, rental payments do not include any amounts required to be paid for taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights. In the case of any lease that the lessee may terminate by paying a penalty, if the net amount (including payment of the penalty) would be reduced if the lessee terminated the lease on the first date that it could be terminated, then this lower net amount will be used.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets of Waste Management, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries less:

 

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all current liabilities (excluding liabilities that are extendable or renewable at our option to a date more than 12 months after the date of calculation and excluding current maturities of long-term debt); and

 

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the value of all intangible assets.

We will calculate Consolidated Net Tangible Assets based on our most recent quarterly balance sheet.

“Indebtedness” means (a) all obligations for borrowed money or on which interest charges are customarily paid, all as shown on the balance sheet of the indebted party and (b) all guarantees of Indebtedness.

 

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“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (a) principally engaged in, or whose principal assets consist of property used by us or any Restricted Subsidiary in the storage, collection, transfer, interim processing or disposal of waste within the United States or Canada or (b) which we designate as a Restricted Subsidiary in an officer’s certificate delivered to the trustee.

“Principal Property” means any waste processing, waste disposal or resource recovery plant or similar facility located within the United States or Canada and owned by, or leased to, us by any Restricted Subsidiary except (a) any such plant or facility (i) owned or leased jointly or in common with one or more persons other than us and any Restricted Subsidiaries in which our and our Restricted Subsidiaries’ interest does not exceed 50%, or (ii) which our Board of Directors determines is not material in importance to our total business or (b) any portion of such plant or facility which our Board of Directors determines in good faith not to be of material importance to the use or operation thereof.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with anyone under which we or our Restricted Subsidiaries lease any Principal Property that we or such Restricted Subsidiary has sold or transferred or will sell or transfer to that person. This term excludes the following:

 

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temporary leases for a term of not more than three years; and

 

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intercompany leases.

“Subsidiary” means an entity at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by us and one or more other Subsidiaries.

Provisions Applicable Solely to Subordinated Debt Securities

Ranking.    The subordinated debt securities will rank junior to all of our senior debt and may rank equally with or senior to our other subordinated debt that may be outstanding from time to time.

Subordination.    Under the subordinated indenture, payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt securities will generally be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we may not make any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on the subordinated debt securities if we fail to pay the principal, interest, premium or any other amounts on any senior indebtedness when due. The subordination does not affect our obligation to make payments in our capital stock pursuant to any conversion right or otherwise made on our capital stock.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of senior indebtedness that we may incur. As a result of the subordination of the subordinated debt securities, if we become insolvent, holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less on a proportionate basis than other creditors.

DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES

Waste Management Holdings may fully and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any series of debt securities. If a series of debt securities is so guaranteed, Waste Management Holdings will execute a separate guarantee agreement or a supplemental indenture as further evidence of its guarantee. We will provide the specific terms of any guarantee in the prospectus supplement.

The obligations of Waste Management Holdings under its guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that will not result in the obligations of Waste Management Holdings under the guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. The specific provisions under which Waste Management Holdings may be released and discharged from its guarantee will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

If a series of debt securities is guaranteed by and is designated as subordinate to our senior indebtedness, then those guarantees by Waste Management Holdings will be subordinated to the senior indebtedness of Waste Management Holdings on substantially the same extent as the series is subordinated to our senior indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We may issue shares of our common stock to purchasers or in order to settle litigation or other claims or to satisfy judgment or arbitration awards. We may also issue shares of common stock to persons upon exercise of any convertible securities issued hereunder. The terms of any offering of common stock will be provided in a prospectus supplement.

We are authorized to issue 1,500,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 490,957,915 shares were outstanding at September 18, 2009. We are also authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which were outstanding on that date.

Common stock

Dividends.    Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when declared by our Board of Directors. In certain cases, common stockholders may not receive dividends until we satisfy our obligations to any preferred stockholders.

Voting Rights.    Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and in each other matter we may ask stockholders to vote on. Common stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of shares voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election.

Fully Paid Status.    All outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The shares offered hereby will also be, upon issuance and sale, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Liquidation or Dissolution.    If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, whether or not voluntarily, common stockholders will share ratably in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and any preferred stockholders.

Listing.    Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “WM.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar.    The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Preferred stock

The Board of Directors is authorized, without obtaining stockholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock. The Board’s authority includes determining the number of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and any liquidation preferences. In this regard, the Board may issue preferred stock with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, and dividend or liquidation preferences that would restrict common stock dividends or adversely affect the assets available for distribution to holders of shares of common stock in the event of our dissolution.

Authorized but unissued shares

Authorized but unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock can be reserved for issuance by the Board of Directors from time to time, without stockholder action, for stock dividends or stock splits, to raise equity capital and to structure future corporate transactions, including acquisitions, as well as for other proper corporate purposes. Stockholders have no preemptive rights.

Delaware law and certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation

We are a Delaware corporation and are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, in addition to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, certain provisions of which are summarized below. You should read the actual provisions of these documents.

 

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Section 203 of the Delaware law provides that an “Interested Stockholder,” which is generally defined to mean any beneficial owner of 15% to 85% of the corporation’s voting stock, may not engage in any “business combination” with the corporation for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

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prior to such date, the corporation’s board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction in which the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder; or

 

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subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at a stockholders’ meeting by a vote of at least two-thirds of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock not owned by the Interested Stockholder.

Section 203 defines the term “business combination” to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the Interested Stockholder.

The provisions of Section 203, combined with the Board of Directors’ authority to issue preferred stock without further stockholder action, could delay or frustrate a change in control or discourage, impede or prevent a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us, even if such an event would be favorable to the interests of our stockholders. Our stockholders, by adopting an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation, may elect not to be governed by Section 203. Such an election would be effective 12 months after its adoption.

Limitation of liability and indemnification of officers and directors

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our directors are not liable for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper personal benefit from their action as directors.

Our Bylaws provide for indemnification of each officer and director to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law grants us the power to indemnify each officer and director against liabilities and expenses incurred by reason of the fact that he is or was an officer or director if the individual (1) acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the company, and (2) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors as well as certain of our executive officers. These agreements generally provide that the individuals will be indemnified to the fullest extent of Delaware law.

We have also purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows us to purchase such insurance whether or not we would have the power to indemnify an officer or director under the provisions of Section 145.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors, officers or controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants or units that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The securities being offered by this prospectus may be sold by us or by a selling securityholder:

 

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through agents,

 

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to or through underwriters,

 

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through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal),

 

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directly by us or a selling securityholder to purchasers, through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise,

 

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through a combination of any such methods of sale,

 

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through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement

The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

Agents may from time to time solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.

If underwriters are used in a sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. The prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we, a selling securityholder, or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

We or a selling securityholder may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and we or a selling securityholder may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

 

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Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment, or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference.

LEGAL MATTERS

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplements, the validity of those securities will be passed upon for us by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Waste Management, Inc. appearing in Waste Management, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2008 including the schedule appearing therein, and the effectiveness of Waste Management, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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$            

 

    % Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

Joint Book-Running and Joint Lead Managers

Barclays

BNP PARIBAS

BofA Merrill Lynch

 

 

                    , 2012