Annual compensation increased again in 2024 for CEOs at publicly traded waste and recycling companies, according to proxy filings.
GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi was again the top earner among U.S. and Canadian counterparts in 2024. Among the seven major companies analyzed by Waste Dive, CEOs made more in 2024 than in 2023, with the exception of Enviri’s Nicholas Grasberger, who reported about $332,605 less in total compensation last year.
The waste industry’s higher pay trend mirrors that of CEOs at major companies in other sectors, who generally also saw increased pay in 2024, according to an analysis by Harvard Law School. The economy in 2024 was “relatively strong,” a factor that influenced higher salary trends, the analysis stated.
The median total compensation for S&P 500 CEOs was $17.1 million in 2024, a 9.7% increase from the previous year. The report called it a “substantial” increase, but said that the jump was less pronounced than the 12.6% year-over-year increase recorded in the study of 2023 pay.
Equilar also looked at pay for the 100 highest-paid CEOs in the country. In 2024, those CEOs earned a median $25.6 million in compensation in 2024, a 9.5% increase from 2023.
Waste Dive analyzed data from the largest publicly traded waste companies operating in the U.S. and Canada. Not included in this year’s list is Stericycle CEO Cindy Miller. WM acquired Stericycle in November 2024.
Industry breakdown
Hover over the chart for specific data, organized in order of company revenue.
*GFL reports in Canadian currency, calculation based on July 23 exchange rate
WM President and CEO Jim Fish
- 2024 company revenue: $22.06 billion
- Base salary: $1,429,290
- Stock awards, option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $15,667,830
- Total 2024 compensation: $17,097,120
- 2024 compensation actually paid: $24,501,038
- Median employee compensation: $85,147.91, ratio 201:1
Republic Services CEO Jon Vander Ark
- 2024 company revenue: $16.03B
- Base salary: $1,161,539
- Stock awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $11,815,936
- Total compensation: $12,977,475
- 2024 CAP: $20,468,108
- Median employee compensation: $84,950, ratio 153:1
Waste Connections CEO Ron Mittelstaedt
- 2024 company revenue: $8.92 billion
- Base salary: $1,128,812
- Share-based awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $6,147,560
- Total 2024 compensation: $7,276,372
- 2024 CAP: 8,186,468
- Median employee compensation: $70,686, ratio of 103:1
GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi (Canadian)
- 2024 company revenue: $7.86B
- Base salary: $2,340,517 ($1,718,641.63 USD on 7/23)
- Share-based awards, annual incentive plan and all other compensation: $64,668,457 ($47,491,221.45 USD on 7/23)
- Total compensation: $67,008,973 ($49,205,455.19 USD on 7/23)
- Median employee compensation: N/A
Clean Harbors co-CEO Eric Gerstenberg
- 2024 company revenue: $5.89 billion
- Base salary: $900,000
- Stock awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $4,382,845
- Total compensation: $5,282,845
- 2024 CAP: $8,209,001
- Median employee compensation: $83,761, annualized average ratio of 63:1
Clean Harbors co-CEO Mike Battles
- 2024 company revenue: $5.89 billion
- Base salary: $900,000
- Stock awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $4,386,045
- Total compensation: $5,286,045
- 2024 CAP: $8,062,035
- Median employee compensation: $83,761, annualized average ratio of 63:1
Enviri Chairman, President and CEO F. Nicholas Grasberger III
- 2024 company revenue: $2.34 billion
- Base salary: $1,014,269
- Stock awards, option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $5,251,776
- Total 2024 compensation: $6,266,045
- 2024 CAP: $3,589,056
- Median employee compensation: $55,808, ratio 112:1
Casella Waste Systems Chairman & CEO John Casella
- 2024 company revenue: $1.56 billion
- Base salary: $763,732
- Stock awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation: $3,402,929
- Total 2024 compensation: $4,166,661
- 2024 CAP: $7,468,566
- Median employee compensation: $70,740, ratio 60:1
Median employee ratios
CEO compensation continues to rise faster than median employee pay, “a trend that shows no signs of slowing,” the Harvard report said. S&P 500 CEOs made 192 times more than their median employees in 2024, a 3.2% greater ratio than the 186:1 ratio in 2023. The median employee across those companies earned $85,419, which was a 1.7% increase from 2023. Among waste companies that Waste Dive analyzed, the smallest ratio was 60:1 and largest was 201:1.
Long term pay trends
Many waste and recycling industry executives received incremental pay growth over time, with overall compensation fluctuating over time due to changes in stock performance or updates to certain bonuses. The chart below reflects that trajectory since 2018.
The chart also shows compensation for certain CEOs who served in other roles at their companies since 2018. Republic’s Vander Ark started 2018 as chief operating officer, then was promoted to president in April 2019. He became CEO in June 2021.
Waste Connections’ Mittelstaedt, who had been CEO for many years, stepped down from that role in 2019 but resumed the role in 2023. Clean Harbors’ Battles and Gerstenberg held the roles of CFO and COO respectively until their promotions to co-CEOs in March 2023.
