Tuesday, June 29, 2010

3 Days to a Better Landfill with SWANA's MOLO Training

Greetings fellow Solid Waste Professionals!

Things are crazy here at the Silver Spring office as we gear up for WASTECON 2010. Luckily, we were still able to catch up with Christopher Campman, one of our speakers and faculty members for this year's WASTECON. Chris will be teaching the Management of Landfill Operations (MOLO) course from Sunday, Aug. 15 - Tuesday, Aug. 17th, as well as, presenting a session on "Making Your Solid Waste Operation Sustainable."

Chris, what can attendees expect to take away from the MOLO course?

I believe the MOLO training course provides a great opportunity for landfill personnel to interact with their peers and learn from others' experience both good and bad. Interaction with the class and discussion of various experiences is in many cases the best training one can get. If a MOLO student learns one thing, it is that making a decision based on experience and training should move the facility forward in a timely matter.

WASTECON offers the opportunity for MOLO students to learn, then visit first hand with vendors that provide the services and equipment that managers utilize everyday in the operations.

What are you most looking forward to at this year's WASTECON?

I look forward to WASTECON as an opportunity and a learning experience. I get to visit old friends in the business and establish new relationships with vendors and attendees and learn about new products and experiences for others.

Join us (and Chris!) in Boston for what's sure to be a great event. Register now.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Collection Case Studies

WASTECON 2010 is going to be bigger than ever in Boston with over 200 speakers and an extra two days of bonus technical sessions, including a special session on “Collection Case Studies,” on Tuesday, August 17th.

Vince Trimboli, Community Relations Supervisor, City of Boise Public Works Department, tells us what attendees can learn from this special session and why he is looking forward to this year’s collocated event.

Vince, what can attendees expect to take away from your session?

An understanding of what outreach resources a medium sized city needs to accomplish a very successful rollout of a brand new trash and recycling program, while getting as much bang for your buck. We changed from a blue bin/single stream system to a wheeled cart/no-sort system and for trash we went from one price/essentially put whatever you want at the curb to a variable rate/wheeled trash cart. Our post roll out survey showed 90-plus percent approval for both programs. While we didn't reinvent the wheel with most of our ideas, we combined several approaches successfully. To get the best use of our money, we built a program/brand which will serve us for many years to come.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

This will help communities who are looking to make changes, large or small, with their trash and recycling programs. I think we had some pretty good ideas and they are very replicable.

How do you think WASTECON attendees will benefit from the collocation with the American Public Works Association?

It will be an opportunity to learn about how the two industries blend from how important proper solid waste protection is to water quality to how the approaches to market each industry can be adapted and used by both.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s WASTECON?

I'm looking forward to learning from the best practical thinkers in our industry and using the knowledge to continue to make Boise such a great place to live, work and play.

Boston is a great place for friends and family! Bring your spouse or guests to the conference and enjoy one of our networking events together. This year, we are excited to announce Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox, as the venue for our Monday Night Networking Event. Attendees will have commanding views of the playing field, where Ted William’s longest home run landed, while enjoying live music, dancing, games and raffles accompanied by a ballpark menu including beer, wine and soft drinks. Don’t miss out, register now at www.WASTECON.org.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

"Public Private Partnerships" at WASTECON 2010

WASTECON 2010 may have a whole new look but attendees can still expect the quality education and networking they’ve come to expect from SWANA events. This year, WASTECON is jam-packed with over 200 technical sessions on industry hot topics such as “Public Private Partnerships” on Wednesday. August 18th.

SWANA caught up with Harold Alvord, Director of Public Works, City of Norwalk, one of the speakers of this session.

Harold, what can attendees expect to take away from your session?
Private waste management firms will understand that there are significant business opportunities in the public sector – in areas that were once solely the domain of public sector employees. Public sector managers will understand that they can successfully break out of the long term comfort level rut of remaining with public or quasi-public entities in solving waste disposal issues.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?
This session will demonstrate that old paradigms can be changed and that there can be significant benefits from thinking a little outside the box.

How do you think WASTECON attendees will benefit from the collocation with the American Public Works Association?

The collocation doubles the bang for the buck. In the current economic environment, where governments are curtailing travel and conferences, it provides an opportunity to learn/experience more in a single trip. Many may have otherwise had to choose between one event or the other.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s WASTECON?

I am most looking forward to meeting and gaining ideas from others.

Join Harold to explore innovative ways in seeking public-private partnerships on Wednesday, August 18th, from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Register now at www.WASTECON.org.