---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-060755"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WM"
cik: "0000823768"
company_name: "WASTE MANAGEMENT INC"
filed_at: "2026-05-14T13:00:43+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-14T13:02:55.253951+00:00"
event_type: "other"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Waste Management shareholders approve ESPP share increase, elect directors at annual meeting

## Summary
- All nine director nominees elected; Victoria Holt received highest oppose count at 17.4M.
- Ratification of Ernst & Young as auditor for 2026 approved (321.7M for, 23.1M against).
- Advisory say-on-pay vote passed (281.8M for, 18.0M against, 44.3M broker non-votes).
- Amendment to Employee Stock Purchase Plan approved, adding 3,000,000 authorized shares.
- Meeting turnout: 345.3M shares voted, 85.7% of outstanding common stock.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-060755
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WM
- cik: 0000823768
- company_name: WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
- filed_at: 2026-05-14T13:00:43+00:00
- event_type: other
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.07, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/0001104659-26-060755-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/tm2614440d2_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-060755
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-060755.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-060755.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  WASTE MANAGEMENT INC shareholders approved Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 at the 2026-05-12 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2026-05-12
  source text: 2. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026: For Against Abstentions 321,725,515 23,078,548 480,220
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/0001104659-26-060755-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WASTE MANAGEMENT INC shareholders approved Approval to amend and restate the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance at the 2026-05-12 meeting.
  - Proposal: equity plan
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2026-05-12
  source text: 4. Approval to amend and restate the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan to increase the number of shares authorized for issuance: For Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 299,089,720 1,363,901 575,310 44,255,352
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/0001104659-26-060755-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WASTE MANAGEMENT INC shareholders approved Approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s executive compensation as described in the Company’s 2026 proxy statement at the 2026-05-12 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2026-05-12
  source text: 3. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the Company’s executive compensation as described in the Company’s 2026 proxy statement: For Against Abstentions Broker Non-Votes 281,781,929 18,039,768 1,207,234 44,255,352
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/0001104659-26-060755-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  WASTE MANAGEMENT INC shareholders approved Election to the Company’s Board of Directors of the following nine director nominees: Thomas L. Bené, Bruce E. Chinn, James C. Fish, Jr., Andrés R. Gluski, Victoria M. Holt, Kathleen M. Mazzarella, Sean E. Menke, William B. Plummer, Maryrose T. Sylvester at the 2026-05-12 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2026-05-12
  source text: 1. Election to the Company’s Board of Directors of the following nine director nominees: Broker Name For Against Abstentions Non-Votes Thomas L. Bené 298,076,937 2,679,806 272,188 44,255,352 Bruce E. Chinn 299,224,102 1,530,399 274,430 44,255,352 James C. Fish, Jr. 298,876,351 1,896,186 256,394 44,255,352 Andrés R. Gluski 287,458,467 13,306,133 264,331 44,255,352 Victoria M. Holt 283,356,243 17,430,889 241,799 44,255,352 Kathleen M. Mazzarella 292,290,728 7,907,126 831,077 44,255,352 Sean E. Menke 295,773,278 4,985,161 270,492 44,255,352 William B. Plummer 296,653,894 4,106,490 268,547 44,255,352 Maryrose T. Sylvester 295,508,489 5,090,590 429,852 44,255,352
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/823768/000110465926060755/0001104659-26-060755-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.