American Waste Control has quite a “sting operation” going on at American Environmental Landfill. In partnership with Up With Bees, we’re supporting one of our planet’s most important natural resources—pollinators.
Honeybees pollinate one in every three bites of the food we eat and 80% of all flowering plants, yet their populations are declining at alarming rates. By hosting hives at our waste-to-energy landfill, we’re creating a safe, sustainable habitat for bees while raising awareness about their essential role in our ecosystem.
The idea took root after our founder, Kenneth Burkett, learned of the bee population crisis. Rather than using herbicides to manage brush growth near power lines on the property, Burkett chose a different path—hand-clearing brush and installing hives to help pollinators thrive. With Up With Bees leading the charge, our apiary supports Oklahoma’s pollinators while also offering hands-on learning opportunities for the community. The honey produced—affectionately called “landfill honey”—is a sweet bonus and a symbol of sustainability in action. “These bees are docile, productive, and essential to local biodiversity,” says Todd Green, Vice-President of Landfill Operations. “They help pollinate plants across the region, and they remind us every day why our commitment to the environment matters.”
Up With Bees places hives in unexpected places—like ours—to support local food production, enrich urban ecosystems, and spark curiosity about the natural world. Because we need them—and they need us.
