SWANA TO PREMIERE NEW RECYCLING CERTIFICATION COURSE IN FEBRUARY

PREMIERE WILL BE IN PORTLAND, ORE. AT SWANA'S WINTER TRAINING CENTER

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has announced that its new Manager of Recycling Systems Course will premiere on February 11, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. The Association contracted with Kessler Consulting, Inc. and R.W. Beck on this project, which is in the final stages of development. The training, which will prepare recycling professionals for the new Recycling Certification exam, will provide the knowledge needed to successfully manage a municipal solid waste recycling operation.

The need for industry-wide recycling training with current practices, technologies and case studies prompted the association to develop the new course. SWANA had previously offered a Manager of Recycling Systems program, but a thorough review of the content determined that the significant changes in the industry warranted a new course.

The development has been guided by the Manager of Recycling Body of Knowledge (BOK), which details the core skills, knowledge and abilities of a recycling manager. This document was developed by surveying current recycling professionals and through expert review of the subject matter to identify the necessary information needed to manage today's recycling facility. Throughout its development, the three-day Manager of Recycling Systems Course has been reviewed by a team of recycling experts representing both private and public operations from around North America.

The Manager of Recycling Systems course will be offered at SWANA's Winter Training Center, held in conjunction with the Thinking Outside the Blue Box Conference, which focuses on recycling and special waste. The faculty for the February premiere will be Mitch Kessler, President of Kessler Consulting and Karen Luken of the Clinton Climate Exchange. Mr. Kessler and Mrs. Luken are current faculty members with SWANA and also served as lead writers on the project.

For more information on the Manager of Recycling Systems Course, download the course agenda at http://swana.org/www/Portals/Training/Recycling_Course.pdf.

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SOLICITATIONS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY POSITION FOR FY2010

In accordance with Policy MA-32, the Association is currently requesting applications from interested candidates for the position of International Secretary for fiscal year 2010, September 2009 – August 2010, (but serving by tradition from the 2009 Annual Business Meeting in September 2009, to the 2010 Annual Business Meeting in August 2010.)

Applications for FY 2010 are due to the Associate Director prior to December 31, 2008.

The application packet must include the following documentation:

1. Letter of interest;
2. Resume;
3. Summary of Qualifications clearly responding to each of the selection criteria set forth in Section V of MA-32 (ISWM, SWANA governance experience, professional experience, interpersonal skills, communication skills, etc.).
4. Letters of support or other documentation supporting candidate’s contribution to SWANA.
5. Letter of support from candidate’s local SWANA chapter; and
6. Letter of support from candidate’s employer, where applicable. This letter of support must include language that acknowledges the candidate’s obligation to attend board meetings and other SWANA events, as invited and necessary to represent the Association, and to devote the time required to fulfill the duties of office for a five-year period.
   

Please refer to policy MA-32 for further details (available from the Associate Director at kcallaghan@swana.org or by calling 240-494-2248).

Election will be with IB approval and by written ballot of the SWANA Membership via on-line voting in August 2009. Resumes of each candidate will be available on-line with the ballot.

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LAWRENCE LECTURE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEARCH FOR NOMINEES

The Board of Trustees for the Lawrence Lecture Fund would like your help in the search for nominees. All Chapters and individual members are encouraged to submit their nominations for this award.

The Lecturer award may be given annually to an individual recognized as a national/international leader and expert in the field of solid waste management, or another segment of the field of environmental protection. Recognition can come in the form of research, management, publications, teaching and/or political action, and contributions should be substantial, significant and sustained. While emphasis will be placed on the recipient working in the field of solid waste management, other fields of environmental protection may also be considered.

As part of the award, the lecturer shall receive an honorarium and reimbursement for travel costs. The amount provided for travel and the honorarium is determined by the Trustees. The recipient may be a citizen of any country. Joint recipients may be selected where the recipients represent joint efforts of endeavor. The Lawrence Lecture is presented annually at WASTECON®.

All nominations need to be received by the Association Offices no later than January 15, 2009. The review and selection process will be completed so that all considered candidates can be presented to the Executive Committee at their Mid-Year Meeting. To submit a nomination, contact Kathy Callaghan at 240-494-2248, fax 301-589-7068, or e-mail kcallaghan@swana.org.

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WASTECON 2008 DRAWS THOUSANDS TO TAMPA

October 23, 2008 (Tampa, Fl.) – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) bids Tampa farewell as yet another successful WASTECON comes to a close. Thousands of solid waste professionals turned out for the three day conference and exhibition held at the Tampa Convention Center.

“I would like to thank everyone that made this year’s WASTECON an outstanding success, ” said John H. Skinner, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of SWANA. “We appreciate the hard work of the Florida Sunshine Chapter, the excellent papers by all of the speakers and the support from the many sponsors and exhibitors.”

While the conference officially began on Tuesday, the SWANA Training Center opened on Sunday with nine courses being offered, four of which were newly updated. These training courses, taught by leaders in the industry, give solid waste professionals the opportunity to earn or maintain their SWANA Certification in eight disciplines. This year, more than 330 individuals participated in a training course and 218 completed a certification exam.

The conference opened on Tuesday with a breakfast featuring Quiet Riot, a duo of two brothers, Bill and David Mettler, who engaged and humored the attendees with comedy, storytelling, music and sound effects. A parade of SWANA Chapter flags and a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed, officially marking the opening of the Exhibit Hall, where more than 200 vendors had their products and services on display.

Other highlights of the conference included a Nobel Peace Prize winning session with Lawrence Lecturer Jean Bogner, Ph.D., and Keynote speaker Roberta Fernandez discussing climate change issues and what people, at work and at home, can do to mitigate the effects. The Wednesday Night Networking Event, hosted by the Florida Sunshine Chapter of SWANA, brought a large crowd to Busch Gardens Africa and the annual Awards Luncheon honored six individuals and 24 facilities that have demonstrated innovation and excellence in solid waste management.

The conference also included more than 25 technical sessions, the majority of which focused on the energy, climate and solid waste connection. SWANA will continue to concentrate on environmental issues pertaining to solid waste and provide professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to move their organizations forward in environmentally and economically sound ways. WASTECON 2009, to be held in Long Beach, California Sept. 22-24, 2009, will expand and build on this year’s conference and highlight any changes and advancements in the industry and will have a special focus on “The Power of Solid Waste.”

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SWANA'S 2009 OFFICERS ANNOUNCED AT WASTECON

October 22, 2008 (Tampa, Fl.)— The International Board of Directors of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) gathered today with the membership of the Association for the Annual Business Meeting, where the 2009 officers were announced. Laurie Batchelder Adams of LBA Associates, who now holds the title of past president, officially handed over the gavel to Carl Newby of Arlington County Department of Environmental Services, SWANA's new International President.

"I am greatly honored to be able to serve with so many other solid waste professionals from all across North America," said Carl Newby. "We plan to continue working to make livable and sustainable communities using environmentally and economically sound solid waste practices."

John Hadfield assumed the position of International Vice President, while Sara Bixby of South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency became the International Treasurer and James Warner of Lancaster County Solid Waste Authority became the new International Secretary.

"The enthusiasm these newly elected officers have for our cause is exciting to see," said John H. Skinner, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of SWANA. "They are geared up and ready to carry out their plans for SWANA and I know all four of them are going to do a great job this upcoming year."

The Annual Business Meeting was followed by the WASTECON 2008 Lawrence Lecture and Keynote Presentations. The Lawrence Lecturer, Dr. Jean Bogner, was the coordinating lead author of the waste management chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) report on "Mitigation of Climate Change." The Keynote Speaker, Roberta Fernandez, president and founder of Planet Partnership, was one of the first people selected and trained by former vice president, Al Gore, to present his acclaimed climate change message, "An Inconvenient Truth."

Both the IPCC and Al Gore were honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2007 "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change."

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SWANA ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR FUTURE WASTECONS

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) announced at the opening of WASTECON 2008 that it has selected the dates and locations for WASTECONS 2011, 2012 and 2014. The Executive Committee of SWANA's International Board of Directors approved three venues at their Sunday Oct. 19 meeting., which take three upcoming WASTECONs to the Gaylord Hotels, a hotel chain that prides itself on being the "only hotel brand that focuses solely on meetings."

WASTECON 2011, to be held August 23-25, 2011 will be at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee. The Gaylord National in Washington, DC will be the site of WASTECON 2012, bringing WASTECON close to SWANA's national office located in Silver Spring, Maryland. The convention is scheduled for August 15-17, 2012. WASTECON 2014 will be August 26-28, 2014 at the Gaylord Texas in Dallas. Site locations for WASTECON 2013 are still being reviewed.

"By negotiating a three-year package with the Gaylord Hotels we were able to secure very affordable hotel rates for our attendees and exhibitors at three first- class facilities in exciting locations," said John H. Skinner, Ph.D. SWANA Executive director and CEO. "These full-service hotels provide guest rooms, meeting and exhibit space, restaurants and recreational facilities all under one roof," Skinner added.

SWANA and over 3000 solid waste professionals are currently participating in WASTECON 2008 through Thursday, October 23 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. Early indications predict that this will be another successful event and attendees are excited about this year's focus on the Energy, Climate and Waste Connection.

SWANA CALLS FOR INCREASED WASTE SCREENING IN RESPONSE TO EPA'S UPDATED DEFINITION OF SOLID WASTE

With the issuance of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule regarding the updated definition of solid waste, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has advised its members of the increased importance of waste screening practices at municipal solid waste facilities. While the goal of the rule is to encourage recycling of hazardous materials, the USEPA estimates that 1.5 million tons of hazardous materials would be excluded from the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act’s hazardous waste regulations. This could cause a potential loophole through which hazardous materials may escape regulation finding their way into municipal solid waste facilities, thus placing an increased importance on waste screening practices.

“Municipal solid waste managers need to know where their wastes are coming from and SWANA strongly encourages more vigilant practices to detect and screen out prohibited wastes,” said John H. Skinner, SWANA Executive Director and CEO.

After publication of the revised EPA rule, Skinner issued a cautionary notice to the International Board of Directors, the governing body of the Association. He also indicated that SWANA is updating its Waste Screening Training Course to provide improved guidance for SWANA members. This revised course will be finished by the end of this calendar year.

The full version of the notice can be found online at http://swana.org/www/Portals/Officers/SWANA_Notice_Regarding_EPA_Ruling.pdf