I AM SWANA Blog

SAFETY.CAT.COM

2010-08-23T10:17:00.001-04:00

While on the show floor Tuesday, Caterpillar provided details about free customer safety resources for equipment operators to promote safety to everyone on or around heavy equipment.

Cat’s website, SAFETY.CAT.COM provides Cat product specific safety training materials and education as well as general industry and jobsite safety information. If you don’t use Caterpillar products, the safety education and training is general and useful for most equipment and work environments.

The information is universal in most cases and can be used for general safety on the work-site, said Tara Cox, customer safety services manager with Caterpillar.

The site provides more than 6,000 free training and safety resources. And, it also offers 17 safety basics videos approximately 3-to-7 minutes in length.

Safety video topics include personal protective equipment, avoiding fatigue, and avoiding slips and falls. Much of the training is based on common OSHA violations. The website provides resources for each topic listed below.

OSHA 2009 Top Violations
1. Scaffolding
2. Fall Protection
3. Hazard Communication
4. Respiratory Protection
5. Control of Hazards Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
6. Ladders
7. Powered Industrial Trucks
8. Electric, Wiring methods
9. Electrical Systems Design
10. Fall Protection Training Requirements

The training and services is designed to reduce injury and keep safety on the front of everyone’s minds.

Technical Session: Innovative Energy Production

2010-08-17T14:21:00.002-04:00

During Monday afternoon’s session on biosolid drying, Greg Grant with Ventura Regional Sanitation District in California shared his success on managing biosolids and generating green energy.

Greg discussed the organization’s need to find a better solution to manage biosolids. Biosolids are organic materials resulting from highly processed waste water treatment facilities. Greg said many counties are banning land disposal options.

The drying operation was the first of its kind. VRSD accept biosolids from 5 waste water treatment facilities at a 2.2 acre facility within a 343-acre landfill site. They don’t use electric or gas to operate the facility – they convert the landfill gas on-site and generate electricity.

VRSD use (2) 80-ton Fenton batch dryers to reduce the volume of the biosolids. They manage 8,000 tons of biosolids each month. They reclaim the water from process and use it for dust control on the facility grounds. Once the material has been dried, it can be used as alternate daily cover for landfills or fertilizer.

VRSD has one of the lowest tipping fee rates in California.

Cost Breakdown on managing biosolids:
Land Disposal: $40-$60 per ton – Disadvantage: Prohibited or restricted
Composting: $45-$65 per ton – Disadvantage: High odor benefit
Drying (other): $75-$100 per ton – Disadvantage: Energy source is natural gas
VRSD Drying: $42 per ton – Advantage: Energy and disposal stable

Techical Program: Planning for Sustainability

2010-08-15T14:48:00.002-04:00

John Williams, SVP, National Director – Sustainable Development with HDR Engineering, Inc. shared his work with the Clinton Global Action Network.
John’s presentation, Rethinking Waste and Its Management highlighted key points to work together on waste issues. He stated the action network is a non-partisan, nonprofit initiative. And, this is an initiative that is not a local or domestic issue – it a global issue.

The initiative based on 4 principles – World health, education, poverty and environment and energy. Many of these issues are hard to tackle by one country, but can be solved when working together.

The network’s global vision: The elimination of the concept of waste as we know it.

John shared a story while he traveled to Brazil – He witnessed people wearing bathing suits without shoes to pick materials out of the dump in Rio. We want to help by proving boots or other items including gloves to improve the safety and health, John said. Many times, it is women and children picking through the waste in the landfill.

5 pillars of Waste (Focus of Action Network Efforts)
▪ Rethink the entire waste stream (producer innovation)
▪ Encourage less resource consumption (consumer literacy)
▪ Expand the recovery of post-recycled materials (technology innovation)
▪ Reduce risk for people and the environment in developing countries (women and informal economy)
▪ Reduce net waste tonnage landfilled per capita

Parting message, we can do more with the waste in the landfill by creating a new vision by eliminating the concept of waste as we know it today.

Awards Brunch

2010-08-15T14:45:00.002-04:00

Many excellent solid waste professionals were recognized during Sunday’s Awards brunch. SWANA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes technically and economically responsible municipal solid waste management programs that also protect the public health and the environment.

Award highlights include:
In the Communication, Education & Marketing Excellence Awards category – The gold award winner was North Shore Recycling Program, British Columbia.
Al Lynch accepted the award for North Shore. They were recognized for their composting education efforts. The organization developed 7 How-to composting videos to educate residents, which provided composting basics. North Shore reported a 25 percent increase in composting efforts. Who says composting education can’t be interesting? Keep up the great work!

Life member award went to Fredrick C. Rice. Fred is the president of Soiltec, Inc. The Life Member award includes the individual’s length of service and commitment to SWANA, service to their chapter and support to other chapters. Fred’s long-term involvement in his field has been in landfill gas control, recovery and utilization.
Fred was on the team that developed the world’s first Landfill Methane Recovery Facility at Palos Verdes, California in 1974. Fred started with a small engineering firm in 1974 and had no idea what it would become. After sharing his appreciation for the award, he said he had a few more years to go.

Think you have an award winning program or facility? Consider submitting your application for the 2011 Excellence Awards Program. Submit your application by March 31, 2011. Awards will be presented at the 2011 WASTECON in Nashville, TN.
To download a nomination form for 2011, visit www.awards.SWANA.org.

Opening Reception

2010-08-15T08:57:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Beantown! First, I would love to say that I had a wonderful time at the Opening Reception WASTECON 2010. It feels great reconnecting with old friends and making new friends in the waste, recycling and sustainability industry!

I engaged in a great conversation during the opening reception with Richard Ludt, a charimatic interior demolition destruction waste management administrator with Interior Removal Specialist, In. (IRS) in South Gate, CA - which is located approximately 10 miles from Los Angeles.

When asked what Richard planned to accomplish during the conference, he wanted to share his companies unique process of interior demolition that specializes in complete recycling opportunities. Not only did I talk with folks from the United States, I spoke with an attendee from Canada. It makes me believe that we're all in this together.

First-time attendee, Todd Smith in sales/engineering with Xebec Adsorption, Inc. - a biogas upgrading and gas drying company from Vancouver is looking forward to meeting established natural gas professionals. He was excited to attend one of the first conference's providing biogas information.

The highlight of the evening was talking to the incoming president Sara Bixby. Sara works for the South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency in Tracy, Iowa. Sara feels she has big shoes to fill with the previous presidents' contributions to the organization.

Already working on ideas with the SWANA board, Sara wishes to revisit services SWANA provides to its members and evaluate the services to ensure they meet the needs of the next generation. Sara discussed the need to meet the needs of upcoming technology-based generation.

She knows it will take a longer committment that the one year she will hold the title as president, but is confident great changes are on the horizon! Sara's energy and enthusiam will definitely bring a lot of great ideas this coming year.

Enjoy the conference and please come back to read more of our conference coverage!

SWANA to Present Haiti Earthquake Response at WASTECON 2010

2010-08-04T11:27:00.001-04:00

SWANA to Present Haiti Earthquake Response at WASTECON 2010

Silver Spring - The Solid Waste Association of North American (SWANA) will present its recommendations for improving solid waste collection operations in Haiti in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in a newly added technical session at WASTECON 2010 in Boston. The session will take place on August 17, 2010 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center at WASTECON 2010.

In March 2010 SWANA received a request from the Service Metropolitain de Collecte des Residus Solides (SMCRS) in Haiti for assistance in dealing with the solid waste problems occurring following the earthquake. Solid wastes were piling up in the streets and canals posing serious sanitation and public health problems and SMCRS personnel working 24 hours a day were unable to keep up with the large quantities of wastes being generated. The SMCRS is the state-appointed agency to collect and dispose of solid waste in the greater Port-au-Prince area of Haiti, which includes eight cities and a population of 2.5 million.

SWANA responded by establishing a SWANA Haiti Response Team comprised of volunteer SWANA members from SWANA's Collection Technical Division who met with representatives of the SMCRS and developed a position paper that documents Haiti's equipment and service needs. A copy of that paper can be downloaded here.

SMCRS representatives and SWANA's Haiti Response Team will participate in a technical session at WASTECON 2010 and will discuss the project and the recommendations of the team. Haiti represenatives will include:

Germain Paulemon, General Director SMCRS,
Stanley Delinois, Engineer Haiti Department of Planification,
Patrick Charles, Interpreter and
Carl-Henry Vielot, Engineering Director of Landfill.

SWANA would like to thank Waste Connections and Golder Associates for their financial assistance in sponsoring the travel expenses for the Haiti representatives.

The members of the SWANA Haiti Response Team that have been invited to participate in the WASTECON Haiti session are:

Victoria Garland, Solid Waste Director - Charlotte, NC,
Bill Del Vecchio, Director of Solid Waste and Recycling - Georgetown University,
John Pittman, Assistant Solid Waste Director - Clearwater, FL,
Rusty Cole , Waste Connections, LLC Operations Assistant Manager - Pierce County, WA
Wayman J. Pearson, President - WJ Pearson Inc, And
Jeremy O'Brien, Director of Applied Research, SWANA

For more information on this session, visit www.WASTECON.org or contact Jeremy O'Brien, SWANA staff liaison, at jobrien@swana.org.

Waste & Recyclables with Dr. Adam Read

2010-08-03T12:04:00.007-04:00

Good Afternoon Everyone,

WASTECON2010 is a little more than a week away! As we reach the final stretch of preparing for this exciting event, we continue to bring you the latest updates and special interviews with this year’s speakers.

Today’s post features Dr. Adam Read, AEA’s Knowledge Leader for Waste Management & Resource Efficiency. Dr. Read will be presenting two sessions on Sunday, August 15: Using Door to Door Advisory Teams to Help The Public Take Responsibility for Their Waste & Recyclables at 2:00 p.m., and The Role of PR and Stakeholder Partnerships in Positively Changing Recycling Performance & Behaviour in the UK at 3:30 p.m.

Adam, what can attendees expect to take away from your session/course?

Attendees will gain insight on how to effectively plan and use outreach programs (in particular door to door campaigns) to build community ownership of waste strategies and new services and to ensure that new infrastructure is working effectively from day 1.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

We are no longer an industry of engineers; We must understand how to engage effectively with target audiences and design services & solutions that meet customer requirements. Without appreciation of public needs, new recycling programs will always fail to deliver.

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

This is an excellent opportunity for two of the U.S.’s largest associations and trade shows to work more closely together on a topic that is growing in importance – just look at the climate change agenda and you can see how we are all facing a resources revolution. As a speaker, I am looking forward to meeting people from both associations who represent my core target audience – municipal waste managers – as they are being tasked with saving the environment, protecting communities and delivering to budget – a tough ask and I think I can help.

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

I am looking forward to the breadth of speakers, exhibitors and attendees. I am also looking forward to gaining a better understanding of the US waste management sector and getting to share some of my own personal experiences from Europe. Learning is a beautiful thing.

Well-said, Dr. Read! WASTECON 2010 is almost here. Are you ready? Make sure to check WASTECON.org for the most up-to-date information on speakers and schedules.

Space Heating with LFG

2010-07-22T12:07:00.004-04:00

Greetings Readers,

Can you believe it? It's already the last week of July! Time is flying by this summer as we gear up for WASTECON 2010.

For today’s post, we spoke with Michael Cook, Civil Engineer for R.W. Beck. His session on “Space Heating with LFG: Small Project, Big Savings” will discuss the technology selections, procedures and equipment of applicable space heating projects and will take place on Tuesday, August 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Michael, what can attendees expect to take away from your session/course?

Attendees will take away knowledge on developing landfill gas (LFG) reuse projects that utilize LFG for on-site operations at smaller landfills typically unable to support a LFG to energy projects as well as LFG collection and control systems at smaller landfills that would otherwise be unable to support a collection and control system.

Why is this session/training important to solid waste professionals?

With greenhouse gas rules and regulations, smaller landfills that are near or meet the minimum values requiring greenhouse gas controls need to look at ways to efficiently install a LFG control system and reuse it on site in an effort to reduce other costs.

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

Since sustainability is on everyone's mind these days, I think it is very important to involve all aspects of public works and to work together to progress the goals and objectives of sustainability as a collective effort on all fronts.

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

I’m looking forward to meeting other professionals in the industry and several of the other technical sessions.

WASTECON is less than 2 weeks away! We’ve extended the $200 registration discount but only until this upcoming Monday, August 2nd. Don’t delay any longer; register now.

Creating a Blue Bin Buzz

2010-07-22T11:33:00.004-04:00

Happy Thursday Everyone,

The weekend (and WASTECON 2010) is just around the corner! It’s been hectic around the SWANA office but that won’t stop us from bringing you the latest updates and interviews.

Our post today features Cathie Chavez-Morris, Project Manager for the Multifamily Residential Recycling Program and Environmental Specialist II for the City of Los Angeles. Her session on “Creating a Blue Bin Buzz: Effective Outreach Tools” will take place on Monday, August 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Cathie, what can attendees expect to take away from your session/course?

The attendees will take away a greater understanding of how to use social media marketing tools to engage the public. We will cover Facebook, Twitter, Googlemaps and U-Stream. I will also give some information on redeveloping print materials based on surveys.

Why is this session/training important to solid waste professionals?

A Pew Research Center report identified that one-third of Baby Boomers (46-64 years old) use text messaging daily, have a social networking profile, and mainly get their news from the internet. These tools aren't just for reaching out to Generation X and Generation Y. Pew Research Center, "Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next", February 2010

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

This is a great opportunity to further emphasize the importance of private and public partnerships related to waste resources.

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

I’m very interested in the alternative technology and organic waste workshops. Plus, the Fenway mixer sounds like loads of fun! Go Red Sox!

With a passion for Recycling (and the Red Sox), Cathie’s session is sure to be interesting and informative! Don’t miss out on this—or any of our many sessions taking place at WASTECON 2010. Register now to save $200.

Effective Municipal Partnerships

2010-07-20T11:38:00.003-04:00

Good Morning!

With less than a month until WASTECON 2010, we’re continuing to bring you the latest updates and exclusive interviews with our speakers and faculty members. WASTECON 2010 provides you with the opportunity to learn from your peers and with your peers through sessions developed and taught by solid waste professionals. Today’s post features Rosemary Nolan, Solid Waste Coordinator for the Tri Town Alliance and a Boston native!

Her session on Effective Municipal Partnerships, which happens to be one of the bonus sessions offered this year, will take place on Wednesday, August 18 at 9:30 a.m.

What can attendees expect to take away from your session/course?

Attendees will be able to see how 3 municipalities with different levels of service were able to work together and complete a regional bid process on solid waste services while maintaining their autonomy after the bid process.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

The session is important to solid waste professionals because it is based on an actual regional experience that has the supporting data of its success in saving millions of dollars over the life of the contract.

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

The partnering of WASTECON and APWA enhances the learning experience while providing a more effective use of time management for solid waste professional.

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

I am most looking forward to the ongoing learning experience from my peers by attending WASTECON.

Hotels and tours are filling up fast! Remember to register by July 28th to receive a $200 discount on your registration.

Landfill Development Opportunities

2010-07-16T13:27:00.011-04:00

TGIF Everyone!

For today’s post, we spoke with Todd Feland, Public Works Director for the City of Grand Forks, ND, on his session, “When a Solid Waste Landfill Development Opportunity Comes Around Again.” Todd will be presenting on Wednesday, August 18th.

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

The message for Public Works professionals involved in establishing a new Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill or other Public Works facility project is to dedicate the necessary time and energy to complete the task, maintain relationships with potentially impacted citizens, keep people (including the Mayor, City Council, City staff, and regulators) believing in the ultimate vision, personally lead each step of the process, take responsibility for the outcome, learn from setbacks along the way, and have the authority to close the deal.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

The message is important for Public Works and Solid Waste professionals because of ongoing and increasing service level demand with a corresponding increasing scarcity of resources for Public Works and Solid Waste professionals. At the same time, citizens have a declining belief and lack of trust that government and other large institutions can meet service level demands and solve societal challenges. The message is important to understand and validate the current public policy arena, and further to examine methods, opportunities, and strategies to make good and constructive public policy decisions.

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

The challenges between Public Works and Solid Waste professionals are similar and more resource and knowledge sharing will benefit both professionals. The WASTECON and APWA groups will help grow one another and each can learn from the other professional “silo”. Further integration between the two groups will make both professional associations stronger and better informed for all members.

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

I am looking forward to seeing how well the collocation between WASTECON and APWA goes this year in Boston.

WASTECON is rapidly approaching and the excitement is building. Four hotels have completely filled up and as a result, we added two new hotels for attendees. Along with the new hotel additions, we’ve decided to extend the $200 registration discount until July 28th. Don’t delay any longer; register now so you can maximize your savings for this one-of-a-kind event.

Senate Considers Moving Towards Energy Only Package

2010-07-15T10:23:00.001-04:00

Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs, SWANA

It appears as though in the current political climate (no pun intended) the only form of climate change legislation that has a chance of passing would be that with a strong focus on energy provisions and less focus on a cap-and-trade system. The language in the recently released Kerry-Lieberman draft (which was to be the vehicle for climate change legislation this year) includes significant incentives for offshore oil drilling and provisions that would open up new tracts of land to drilling. After the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico these provisions are extremely unlikely to pass and must be abandoned in order for any legislation to move forward.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has called on the chairpersons of various committees to begin examining a number of bills that can be combined into one large energy package. The bills under consideration include: S.1462, American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009; S.3442, Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010; S.3495, Promoting Electric Vehicles Act of 2010. All of these bills include incentives to promote clean energy such as renewable energy and a more efficient usage of power through electric vehicle and energy efficient measures.

In an effort to address the crisis in the Gulf these bills would be combined with S.3516, Outer Continental Shelf Reform Act of 2010. This legislation would place much stricter standards on offshore oil drilling operations.

A positive of this legislation for the solid waste industry is that S.1462 includes a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This RPS would allow both landfill gas and waste-to-energy to qualify as renewable sources of energy to help states meet their mandated quota under the bill. The

Senate is expected to begin markups on the package later this week.

For any questions please contact me directly at 240.494.2241 or scrawford@swana.org.

Upgrading Your Transfer Station

2010-07-13T14:48:00.003-04:00

Greetings Everyone,

We are about a month away from WASTECON 2010! As we prepare for this colossal event, we will continue to bring you the latest updates – including special interviews with this year’s speakers.

For today’s post, we spoke with Bob Zorbaugh, Senior Manager of Operations for the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management. Bob’s session on “The Redevelopment and Revitalization of a Transfer Station Complex” will take place on Monday, August 16th from 2-3 pm.

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

Attendees at my session will come away with Transfer Station design ideas to maximize operational efficiencies for handling waste, as well as, ideas for developing a modern transfer facility with a limited site foot print.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

This session could save solid waste professionals the pain of learning from their mistakes in transfer station design, by experiencing lessons learned from our project.

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

The collocation with APWA will allow attendees to check out much more equipment on the show floor outside of waste handling equipment –specifically, equipment that is utilized to maintain waste disposal sites such as snow removal equipment, storm water infrastructure and roadway maintenance.

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

I'm looking forward to checking out the APWA portion of the show, technical tours and the networking event at Fenway Park.

This is just one of over 70 sessions at this year's event. Register now for access to the collocated show floor, an opening reception featuring a live and local blues band, 200+ dynamic speakers and a great opportunity to network with other solid waste professionals.

Interview with Boston Local: Sumner Martinson

2010-07-09T12:08:00.004-04:00

Hello readers,

We here at SWANA are so excited to be holding WASTECON in Boston this year. Apparently, we aren’t the only ones! One of our speakers and city locals, Sumner Martinson of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, tells us about his special “Composting Session” and why he is looking forward to this year’s collocated event.

Sumner will be speaking at the special “Composting Session” hosted by Biocycle with Christine Beling, Project Engineer for USEPA, on Tuesday, August 17th.

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

Attendees will take away an understanding of the implementation of the Massachusetts organics diversion and recycling strategy, and how it was applied to the largest convention center on the East Coast. Recycling data and a case study will be presented on organics diversion, as well as, other materials diverted from the BCEC waste stream to recycling.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

This session will provide information and insight on how to implement organic and recycling diversion programs at convention center venues, along with the challenges, solutions, and benefits that come with the implementation of these programs.

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

Generally, public works personnel are not WASTECON attendees, though they are often integral in developing recycling strategies and programs. Having them participate will increase awareness of these programs and will help expand existing programs.

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

As a state employee who is not usually able to attend a WASTECON conference, this year’s location provides me with an opportunity to participate and benefit from the exposure of a wide variety of people and information. Also, it's an honor for Boston to host this event!

Filled with rich history and dynamic experiences, Boston is the perfect home for WASTECON 2010! The Massachusetts Chapter of SWANA has been hard at work preparing to welcome attendees and guests with a homerun of a Monday Night Networking Event at Fenway Park, Home of the Boston Red Sox. 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.

Managing Transfer Station Systems at WASTECON

2010-07-07T13:42:00.004-04:00

Hello from Silver Spring!

We hope that everyone is staying cool and hydrated despite the summer heat. We also hope that by now, you've registered for WASTECON 2010. This year's event is taking place next month in Boston, where the clam chowder is delicious and the baseball team is actually pretty good :) Have I mentioned that the Massachusetts Chapter of SWANA is giving away free pairs of tickets to Red Sox vs. Angels games at the Monday Night Networking Event?

Along with fun networking events, WASTECON 2010 will provide quality education and training with courses such as Managing Transfer Station Systems. Don Birnesser, who is a longtime SWANA Faculty Member and one of the instructors of this course, tells us more in our recent interview with him.

Don, what can attendees expect to take away from your course?

Attendees can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to plan, site, design, permit, operate and maintain transfer stations. The course will emphasize the importance of effective communication with employees, customers, managers, regulatory officials, as well as the general public.

Why is this course important to solid waste professionals?

As fuel costs have increased in recent years and disposal sites continue to become more distant, transferring solid waste has become an integral component of solid waste systems, both public and private sector, to increase system efficiency and minimize impacts to the environment.

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

System operators rely upon the same equipment as public works departments to operate and maintain their transfer stations.

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

The sharing of new ideas between the attendees in the classroom and during the field trip is invaluable. Even though I have taught the course many times before, I always come away learning new angles as well.

Register now to get industry leading training with 10 courses and a new 1 day workshop developed and taught by solid waste professionals.

Landfill Reuse

2010-07-01T12:17:00.004-04:00

Happy July 1st Everyone,

We are now only 46 days away from WASTECON!! As the event gets closer, we will continue to bring you the latest updates and exclusive interviews with our speakers and faculty members. Today's post features an interview with W. Michael Brinchek, Project Engineer at CDM.

Michael will be presenting a session on Tuesday, August 17th from 9:00 am - 10 am on Landfill Reuse.

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

My session will discuss the possibilities for long term development of a solid waste facility beyond disposal or treatment. Although the presentation will focus on the transformation of a landfill into a park, there are opportunities for redevelopment, and as land becomes more valuable and sustainability becomes more mainstream, the need to create a long-term asset will continue to grow.

Why is this session important to solid waste professionals?

It challenges the solid waste professional to look beyond the disposal or treatment unit and create a long term development master plan that will be a long-lasting resource for the community.

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

APWA brings together top level Directors, Department Heads and Executives to share innovative ideas and explore new ideas for sustainability in public works. I believe this presentation exemplifies this idea by taking a closed landfill facility and creating a park for public use in the heart of one of our regions fastest growing communities.

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

By collocating these two events, the different perspectives from both organizations can be shared and hopefully the transfer of knowledge between these two groups can be a benefit everyone.

This is just one of over 70 sessions at this year's event. Register now for access to the collocated show floor, an opening reception featuring a live and local blues band, 200+ dynamic speakers and a great opportunity to network with other solid waste professionals.

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

2010-06-29T11:26:00.006-04:00

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.

Collection Case Studies

2010-06-24T11:04:00.006-04:00

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.

"Public Private Partnerships" at WASTECON 2010

2010-06-22T08:48:00.003-04:00

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.

High Energy from Orlando

2010-05-21T09:56:00.001-04:00

It was great to see so many of you at NAWTEC last week in Orlando! There's some exciting things happening in the world of Waste-to-Energy and Alternative Technologies and SWANA members are out in front paving the way! The economic and political climate is rich with new developments. There's a lot of activity happening in the WTE Technical Division as well as in SWANA's Applied Research Foundation's WTE Group.

It's not too late for you to get involved! If you're already a member of the WTE Technical Division, contact us to participate in our upcoming projects. If you're not a division member yet, click Join Us! Your organization may also want to subscribe and participate in the Applied Research Foundation's WTE Group. For just 1 penny per ton of solid waste processed, you can become an ARF Subscriber.

Let me know what you and your organization are working on in terms of Waste to Energy by commenting below.

Thanks,

Meri Beth Wojtaszek
Director of Education & Marketing

Report from Western Regional Symposium

2010-04-26T10:24:00.009-04:00

It’s spring…and that means it’s time for lots of SWANA Chapter events.

We just received a report on the Western Regional Symposium from Steve Strait, the Central California Sierra Chapter International Board Representative.

"The International Board meeting was up in Banff on the Saturday and Sunday right before the Western Regional Symposium (WRS) so I was rushing around a little. I flew from Calgary to Fresno on Monday and then drove over to St. Louis Obispo, CA (SLO) Monday evening so I missed the opening reception in the Trade Show area. I hear though that the reception, and associated food (e.g. shrimp) was a hit.

I was in charge of the Technical Sessions for Tuesday and Wednesday. We had 28 excellent presentations--compared to past years having only had 18 to 19 presentations. We left plenty of time for each presentation and Q&A period which made for a more casual session. People had plenty of time to ask questions, and a lot of the sessions turned into a nice discussion period.

Our highlight on Wednesday morning was the keynote address by Lanny Hickman on the history and greening of the solid waste industry; it kept nicely with our theme of "Staying Green with Less Green".

Our Wednesday night banquet was very well attended and involved food pairing with the award winning wines from the local California Coast Opolo Winery.

We had golf and trap shooting on Monday and on Thursday we toured the local Cold Canyon Landfill. Overall, I think it was one of our best WRSs that we have put on at SLO."

Sounds like WRS was an awesome event! Thanks for sharing this with everyone, Steve. If you were in SLO for the symposium, post your thoughts and comments about the event below. If you have any pictures from WRS that you would like to share, send them to marketing@swana.org.

We want to hear from your chapter events. Send us your reports and pictures to post!

EPA Faces Significant Challenges to Its Proposed Rulemakings to Control GHGs

2010-02-18T17:10:00.002-05:00

EPA Faces Significant Challenges to Its Proposed Rulemakings to Control GHGs
Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs

Next month, EPA is scheduled to finalize their Light Duty Vehicle Standard, a ruling whose name oversimplifies the massive impact it will have on the regulated community. These standards would require new vehicles to have carbon dioxide emissions below 250 grams per year. According to EPA, this will set the precedent for more extensive regulation of greenhouse gases (GHG) under other parts of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Previously, EPA had not set standards for GHG, however in Supreme Court case, Massachusetts vs. EPA, the court ruled GHGs are air pollutants. In order to determine whether or not they could be regulated by EPA, the Court ruled EPA must determine if they pose a danger to public health and welfare. In December of last year, EPA responded to this by issuing the endangerment finding, formally stating GHGs are a danger to public health and welfare. This finding provides EPA with the legal basis to promulgate the vehicle standards next month.

SWANA has been tracking these vehicle rulings very closely because they set the precedent for other rulings, which will impact solid waste operations. EPA has stated that once they promulgate emissions standards for GHGs, these gases will immediately be subject to other provisions of the CAA. This interpretation would subject solid waste facilities such as landfills and waste-to-energy plants to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) provisions in which facilities that exceed certain thresholds of various pollutants must show they are using the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to reduce these emissions. GHGs would also be subject to Title V permitting requirements. Many of the landfills affected have never previously been subjected to regulation under the CAA. The triggering thresholds for PSD and Title V, which are set at levels for criteria or hazardous air pollutants, would subject hundreds of thousands of facilities to these regulations if GHGs are regulated at the same thresholds.

Although EPA is insistent upon their course, they have received challenges to each action that lead them on the path to using the CAA to regulate GHGs.

Challenges to the Endangerment Finding

Senator Murkowski of Alaska has been a major opponent of EPA using CAA provisions to regulate GHG. On January 21, she introduced a “Resolution of Disapproval” in an attempt to nullify the endangerment finding. Nearly forty senators support the resolution including three Democrats. The odds of the resolution being approved are unlikely since it would require a Presidential signature, however Senator Murkowski is hoping that its sends a strong message to EPA that there is considerable Congressional opposition to what they are doing.

This is not the Alaskan Senator’s first attempt at reigning in EPA. Last September Senator Murkowski attempted to add an amendment to an Interior-EPA Spending bill that would have prevented EPA from controlling GHG emissions from stationary sources for one year.

Challenges to the Light Duty Vehicle Standard

During the open comment period on the light duty vehicle standard, EPA received many challenges to their authority to proceed with such a ruling. One such challenge was issued by a group of associations representing a large sector of the industries which will eventually be affected by these rules: the American Chemistry Council, the American Iron and Steel Institute, the American Meat Institute, the Corn Refiners Association and the National Oilseed Processors Association.

In their letter these associations stated that EPA did not consider the effects the light duty vehicle rule would have on stationary combustion sources and EPA’s failure to do so is “capricious and arbitrary”. The Supreme Court has ruled in previous cases that rulings are “arbitrary and capricious” if the agency “entirely failed to consider an important aspect of the problem”. The associations believe that EPA has failed to fully assess and analyze the effects of this ruling outside the motor vehicle sector although EPA is aware that its impact is not limited to this sector.

An additional argument made in the Associations’ letter concerns EPA’s view that issuance of the motor vehicle rule automatically triggers PSD and Title V applicability for GHGs. The Associations believe that this is incorrect and state that the automatic triggering of PSD provisions is not the result of the plain meaning of the CAA, but instead the result of EPA’s interpretations.

Challenges to the Tailoring Rule

Under its so-called Tailoring Rule, EPA proposed to develop what they consider more reasonable PSD and Title V thresholds for GHGs. In our comment letter to EPA regarding this ruling, we did not comment on EPA’s legal authority to regulate GHG using CAA provisions. Instead we offered analyses that we believe showed that EPA is misinterpreting the congressional intent of the provisions. When Congress originally developed the PSD and Title V permits provisions of the CAA, they were meant to apply only to “major sources”. Under EPA’s proposal, facilities that are not “major” would be regulated. Doing a comparison of combustion units currently operating within PSD regulations for covered pollutants can yield comparable CO2e emissions of up to 770,000 tons per year (tpy), more than 30 times the 25,000 tpy threshold EPA has proposed as “major”.

Future Actions

EPA has stated that they believe that cap and trade legislation such as passed by the House of Representatives offers a better approach to control of GHGs than regulation under the CAA. However because of the Massachusetts vs. EPA Supreme Court case they believe they are obliged to move forward with these rulemakings. While many organizations may not agree, it is important to take these proposals seriously and we will continue to track these rulemakings and provide updates as they occur to our membership.

Please contact me directly with any questions.

Shannon Crawford
Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs
scrawford@swana.org
240.494.2241 - direct

SWANA Announces North American Carbon Credit Summit

2010-02-01T14:32:00.002-05:00

*Summit To Be Held April 14, 2010 in Reno, Nevada in Conjunction with April Events

Silver Spring, MD - The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has announced that it will host the North American Carbon Credit Summit on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 in Reno, Nevada. The one day event will provide the most current information available on the constantly evolving carbon credit market as it applies to municipal solid waste professionals.

Developed to address the growing interest SWANA has observed in carbon credit markets, the Summit will present five sessions including an overview of the environmental commodities markets and legislative and regulatory developments as well as individual case studies. Presenters at the Summit will include representatives from organizations involved in credit verification, project consulting, greenhouse gas inventories, RECs and trading platforms, among others.

The Summit will be held in conjunction with SWANA’s 15th Annual Landfill Symposium and Planning & Management Conference, which will take place Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13, 2010. Individuals who register for the North American Carbon Credit Summit will also receive complimentary registration to the Landfill Symposium and Planning & Management Conference. For more information on the Summit, visit http://lfpm.SWANA.org/Carbon.

Use of Social Marketing and Social Media to Promote Recycling in NC on a Shoestring Budget

2010-01-25T10:25:00.005-05:00

Note: The article below was submitted by Kelley Dennings for posting on this blog.

My agency, the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA), utilizes three social marketing campaigns. The Recycle Guys campaign was adopted from South Carolina in 2000. We recommend recycling coordinators use it for Pre-K through 8th grade. In 2005, the Division created RE3.org via an Environmental Protection Agency grant. The audience for RE3.org is high schoolers, college students and 20 something adults. Lastly, we are embarking on a new campaign called Recycle More NC. It will focus on educating 35-55 year olds.

The communication strategies for each campaign vary slightly based on the audience. Recycle Guys are used on children’s cable television channels and through the school system. RE3.org utilizes some cable television ads, social media, athletic events and radio advertisements. The Recycle More NC campaign will involve some cable television, newspaper, radio and truck advertisements.

We have been using social media for the RE3.org campaign for over three years. Our blog, YouTube and MySpace account were all created in 2006. In 2007 we began using Facebook and Flickr. Our newest craze is now Twitter and LinkedIn. Join me at SWANA's Thinking Outside the Blue Box Conference for an overview of these social media components, our lessons learned, tracking performance and a how-to on getting started.

Kelley Dennings

Education and Outreach Project Manager
NC DENR, Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
1639 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1639
919-355-8102
http://www.RecycleGuys.org, http://www.RE3.org

2010-01-19T12:24:00.005-05:00

SWANA Comments on EPA’s Tailoring Rule
Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009, SWANA submitted comments to EPA on their Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule. This proposal is targeted at facilities with emissions over 25,000 tons of CO2e annually and would require them to obtain permits that would demonstrate they are using the Best Available Control Technologies (BACT) to minimize GHG emissions.

Previously GHG were not subject to provisions of the Clean Air Act. However, EPA holds that GHG will be upon promulgation of the light duty vehicle rule, anticipated in the spring of this year, “regulated pollutants”, and as such would be subject to PSD and Title V requirements. We agree that if EPA were to move forward with this rulemaking, a “tailoring” of the thresholds for each of these programs must be performed to avoid the unintended consequence of subjecting a large number of small sources to the regimens of PSD and Title V.

In our letter we chose not to comment on EPA’s interpretation of their legal authority. We are aware that there are a number of challenges to this interpretation, which contain very convincing arguments that EPA may be over-stepping their legal boundaries. While we did not address this issue, our comments should not be misconstrued as acceptance of EPA’s interpretation of their legal authority.

We have a number of concerns with EPA’s proposal as currently written with our most significant being: 1) the alternative thresholds proposed by EPA for the first phase are too low and do not represent “major sources” and 2) the development of BACT must occur with the involvement of the solid waste industry.

We believe that the proposed threshold level of 25,000 tpy CO2e represents smaller sources and is not keeping with Congressional intent for PSD and Title V to be “major source” programs. There is no basis for such a low threshold and EPA has not presented enough rationale for choosing 25,000 tpy. EPA has chosen this threshold based on the number of facilities they believe will be impacted instead of using the Congressional intent of this provision to only regulate “major sources”.

Utilizing equivalent criteria pollutants from combustion sources yields CO2 emissions ranging from 100,000 to over 700,000 tpy CO2. Utilizing EPA’s existing PSD major source threshold for NMOCs, established for landfills, yields an equivalent CO2 level over 745,000 MTCO2e. Using these approaches as guidance, SWANA recommended that EPA provide an alternative threshold that truly represents a “major source”.

Workgroups are currently developing presumptive BACTs. BACT for CO2e are not well-established and therefore the solid waste industry must be represented on these workgroups. EPA themselves have said that landfills are one of the largest effected sectors, therefore it is inappropriate to not include representatives from this industry to participate in the development of BACT. This workgroup alone should not develop presumptive BACT; they should be promulgated as regulations with notice and opportunity for comment.

Additionally, there is the potential for unfair treatment of waste-to-energy under this ruling. Waste-to-energy operations would be affected during the second phase of the rule, the presumptive BACT implementation. Most plants operate with a Title V permit, so they would not need to apply for one during the initial phase of the rule. However these operations would be affected when EPA attempts to impose BACT on their GHG emissions. Waste-to-energy operations provide an essential public service and have been shown to be a net reducer of GHG on a life cycle basis. Additionally their emissions are largely biogenic. We strongly believe that raising the threshold and differentiating between anthropogenic and biogenic will help reduce the potential unfair treatment this proposed rule would have on this form of renewable energy.

To read our full letter to EPA please click here.

For more information on the Tailoring Rule, please see our previous memo dated October 7, 2009.

Please contact me directly with any questions.

Shannon Crawford
Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs
240.494.2241 - direct

2009-12-08T10:22:00.003-05:00

Mandated Monitoring of Greenhouse Gases to Begin January 1st
Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs

Beginning January 1, 2010, facilities covered by EPA’s Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule are required to begin monitoring their emissions. In their ruling, signed in late September, EPA finalized reporting requirements for 31 different sectors, including both landfills and waste-to-energy plants. EPA was directed to develop the mandatory reporting rule, by Congress, as part of a 2008 Appropriations Bill. EPA plans on using the information they receive to better understand the sources of emissions and to develop future policies to reduce greenhouse gases. They have estimated that their ruling will cover 85% of all emissions in the US. SWANA commented on this ruling during the spring comment period and has consulted with EPA throughout the process in order to be able to provide better information to our members. If covered facilities would like to petition for a judicial review they have until December 29, 2009 to file.

Both landfills and waste-to-energy facilities will be required to report their direct GHG emissions if above 25,000 tons of CO2e annually. These facilities are mandated to report all six of the greenhouse gas emissions listed in the rule. Importantly, municipalities and waste management companies will not be required to report indirect emissions resulting from electricity use or direct fleet generated emissions. However, because the rule focuses only on reporting emissions, they will not be able to lower their emission number by accounting for offsets or carbon sequestration.

EPA is currently developing an electronic reporting to system to help ease the burden on regulators as well as reporters. It will be web-based and designed to guide reporters through data entry and submission. This system will include built-in calculations and completeness checks and will allow self-verification with EPA verification of reporting.

One of SWANA’s primary concerns with the proposal was the early start date to begin reporting and the lack of lead time to prepare for GHG emissions data collection. In our comments we requested a one year grace period similar to what was done in California when the Air Resource Board implemented reporting of GHGs. Instead of a one-year grace period, EPA offered a transition period during the first quarter of 2010. During this period, reporters may use “best available monitoring methods” to estimate their GHG emissions. This could include using emissions estimates in the rule itself or information obtained from current monitoring methods or calculations. If facilities would like to extend their use of best available data, they must request an extension by January 28, 2010. No extensions will be granted past December 31, 2010.

Failure to comply with this rulemaking could result in enforcement action under the Clean Air Act. These penalties are severe ranging up to $37,500 per day per violation. Potential violations include:

• Failure to report GHGs
• Failure to collect data needed to calculate GHGs
• Failure to monitor continuously as required by the ruling
• Falsification of reports

EPA has indicated they intend to evaluate each violation individually. The final rule allows them the flexibility to exhaust less punitive actions before taking a more severe step. This, they believe, is consistent with other programs under the Clean Air Act.

Another concern SWANA raised regarding the proposed rule was the lack of a mechanism to exit the program should emissions fall below the reporting threshold. This is especially important in the landfill industry where emissions for closed sites dissipate over time. To address this issue EPA added a provision for facilities to cease reporting if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Five consecutive years below 25,000 tons of CO2e
• Three consecutive years below 15,000 tons of CO2e
• If GHG-emitting processes or operations shut down

The first emissions report is due March 31, 2011and will cover 2010 emissions.

Landfills and waste-to-energy plants are both specifically addressed in the ruling.

Waste-to-Energy Operations

WTE operations are covered under the provisions in Subpart C- Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources and essentially all facilities in the country will be reporting. Subpart C breaks its reporting provisions into four tiers each with different monitoring methods and requirements. WTE facilities will be reporting under either the Tier 2 method or Tier 4 depending on the size of the facility. EPA has designated the threshold for WTE plants to be 250 tons per day. If a unit processes less than 250 tpd they use the Tier 2 monitoring method, if they process over 250 tpd they must use the Tier 4 protocols, which require part 75 continuous emissions monitors (CEMS). In our comments, SWANA had requested that all WTE facilities be allowed to use the Tier 2 method, but this comment was not incorporated in the final rule.

All facilities must report their annual mass emissions of CO2, nitrous oxide and methane. Tier 2 facilities must calculate their emissions based on the total mass of steam generated by MSW, the ratio of the boiler’s maximum rated heat input to its design rated steam ouput capacity (mmBtu/lb steam) and an emission factor. Tier 4 facilities must measure their emissions using continuous emissions monitoring. This would require stack gas volumetric flow rate and CO2 concentration instruments installed on each unit. Tier 4 facilities only need to continuously monitor their CO2 emissions; they may use emissions factors for the other GHGs. Smaller facilities that already have CEMS installed would most likely have to use this information for their reporting, even if they are below the 250 tpd threshold.

Biogenic emissions of CO2 must also be reported, but they are not included in the 25,000 tons threshold. The biogenic emissions would be determined by doing quarterly sampling which is sent to a lab for radiocarbon testing using method ASTM D6866.

Tier 4 facilities that do not have CEMS installed may use Tier 2 reporting requirements during 2010, but beginning on January 1, 2011, they must have CEMS installed.

Landfills

Subpart HH specifies the reporting requirements for MSW landfills, which would include the emissions from the landfill itself, LFG collection systems and LFG destruction devices. Not included in this provision are hazardous waste landfills, C&D landfills and industrial landfills. MSW Landfills that generate more than 25,000 tons of CO2e of methane would be required to report their GHG emissions, regardless of whether or not the methane is destroyed. This is a very low threshold for landfills and according to estimates could include landfills with as little as 350,000 metric tons of waste in place or landfill gas recovery of about 900 metric tons per year of methane. To help landfills determine if they will need to report EPA has developed an online applicability tool.

Landfills without gas collection systems must model their generation rate and subtract the default soil oxidation rate of 10% to must calculate their total emissions. Landfills that control their methane emissions must calculate their methane emissions in two ways and report both results. The first method is to subtract the amount of methane recovered from the modeled generation rate (with adjustments for soil oxidation and the destruction efficiency of the control device); the second method is to apply a gas collection efficiency to the measured amount of CH4 recovered to calculate CH4 generation, then subtracting the measured amount of CH4 recovered (with adjustments for soil oxidation using the default value and destruction efficiency of the destruction device) using the equations provided.

In order to complete these calculations landfills must monitor the following either continuously or weekly:
• Amount of waste coming in
• Concentration of methane in collected LFG using a gas composition monitor
• LFG flow rate with gas flow meter (for landfills with collection systems)

The rule specifies six different methods for monitoring methane concentration: five using gas chromatography and one using total organic carbon. EPA has also confirmed that landfills may use portable methane composition analyzers such as Landtec GEM and Envision as well as gas composition meters using nondispersive infrared technology (NDIR). The rule specifies eight different methods for determining gas flow rate. EPA has indicated that in addition to these methods landfills may use thermal mass flow meters to calculate this figure. Talks with EPA clarifying acceptable techniques for monitoring methane concentrations and measuring flow rates, are likely to continue.

Landfills that currently continuously monitor flow rate, CH4 concentration, temperature, pressure and moisture content using a meter specifically for CH4 must use this system for emissions reporting. Landfill gas to energy projects would also report their emissions of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide using stationary combustion source provisions if the landfill is subject to Subpart HH.

Please contact me directly with any questions.

Shannon Crawford
Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs
240-494-2241 - direct

SWANA Works to Advance Recycling

2009-12-02T15:56:00.006-05:00

John H. Skinner, Ph.D., SWANA Executive Director and CEO

On November 15th, millions of Americans celebrated the 14th anniversary of America Recycles Day and pledged to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials. Looking back over the past few decades, recycling progress has been significant, with the national recycling rate increasing from less than 10% in the 1980s to over 33% today. During that period, tens of thousands of community recycling programs were established across the country. However, even with this progress, this is a time of uncertainty for the recycling movement in North America. The precipitous decline in recycled commodity prices that started a year ago has adversely affected the economics of many local recycling programs. While prices are improving, communities continue to find it difficult to expand their recycling efforts during this period of economic downturn and significant cuts in municipal budgets.

At the same time, some of the national recycling associations are working through a period of significant change and are facing challenges of their own. The National Recycling Coalition (NRC), a leader in the recycling movement over the past 30 years is struggling to reduce its debt and reorganize its programs to avoid bankruptcy. Keep America Beautiful (KAB) has stepped forward to continue some of NRC’s prior efforts and is working to provide better recycling support to its extensive affiliate network. The newly established Recycling Organizations of North America (RONA) has shouldered the ambitious goal of attempting to link together grassroots recycling programs across the country.

SWANA has communicated its willingness and interest to continue to work cooperatively with all recycling organizations to advance recycling in North America. We believe that we are facing an unprecedented opportunity to make recycling a cornerstone of the international efforts to mitigate global warming and to reduce the dependence on non-renewable energy. In addition, we believe that recycling can be advanced by strengthening its connection to community development goals, job creation and green manufacturing efforts. Now more than ever, it is imperative for the national recycling associations to work together on some of these common challenges and opportunities.

We believe that we have some unique strengths and resources that can compliment and help the other members of the recycling community. We pledge to continue our bedrock efforts related to recycling training, education, certification, research and advocacy in order to assist our members in carrying out effective recycling programs in their communities. SWANA will continue to work to advance recycling in North America through the following programs.

Training, Education and Certification

SWANA prides itself on its cutting edge training program. We will continue to put forward new and updated courses targeted at recycling professionals.

The Manager of Recycling Systems Training Course
This course, updated with additional new information in May 2009, covers the planning, developing, marketing, funding, contracting and managing of recycling programs. This includes collection, processing, end-use standards, and protection of human health and the environment. This course prepares students to become a Certified Recycling Manager by taking and passing the Recycling Systems Certification exam.
The Managing Composting Programs Certification Training Course
This newly updated course, given for the first time in September 2009, prepares students for the SWANA/ United States Composting Council Certification Exam and covers composting lawn, wood, food and agricultural materials and the planning, design and operation of composting facilities.
The Managing Construction & Demolition Debris Training Course
Updated in December 2008, this course covers the basics of managing construction and demolition materials, including definition, composition, recycling, environment and human safety issues. This course prepares students for the SWANA/Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) C&D Certification.

Annual Recycling Symposium and Conference
For over 10 years SWANA has put on an annual recycling and special waste symposium entitled Thinking Outside the Blue Box. This symposium encourages innovation in recycling and special waste management by going beyond typical curbside programs and focuses extensively on recycling, composting, product stewardship and special waste issues. The Winter Training Center held in conjunction with the symposium, offers a variety of SWANA recycling training courses and certification exams. This year’s symposium will be held on February 8-13, 2010 in Charlotte, NC. For more information see: http://www.thinkingoutsidethebluebox.org/.

SWANA’s Annual Conference and Equipment Exhibition, WASTECON®, will continue to include recycling education and training as a special theme along with other aspects of integrated solid waste management. This year’s WASTECON® will be held in Boston, MA on August 15-17, co-located with the APWA Annual Conference and Exhibition. For more information on WASTECON® see http://www.wastecon.org/.

The SWANA Recycling and Special Waste Technical Division
SWANA has seven Technical Divisions which provide opportunities for our members to meet, interact and share information with other professionals specializing in various aspects of solid waste management. As our second largest Technical Division with over 600 members, the Recycling and Special Waste Division actively works to advance recycling, composting and special waste practices and to reduce waste. The Division members plan and put on the annual symposium and conference programs, develop and teach the various recycling training courses, participate in regulatory and legislative advocacy efforts and engage in many networking and information sharing efforts.

Recycling Research
In its 9th year, SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation carries out collectively-funded and defined applied research projects that address pressing solid waste management issues. The Foundation has produced many research reports that are available to SWANA members and the general public for free or at nominal prices. Research reports in the recycling area include: Curbside Collection of Residential Food Waste, Recycling and Disposal of Discarded Consumer Electronics, Markets for Recovered C&D Materials, Separation of Food Wastes from Multi Family Buildings and Dual Collection of MSW and Yard Wastes. The Foundation’s research results have reached tens of thousands of solid waste professionals through publication in MSW Management and Resource Recycling Magazines.

Excellence Awards
SWANA’s Excellence Awards Program recognizes outstanding solid waste and recycling programs and facilities that advance environmentally and economically sound practices through effective technologies and processes in system design and operations, proactive worker and community health and safety, and successful public education and outreach. SWANA provides Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in 13 categories including composting, public education, recycling and integrated solid waste management.

Recycling Advocacy
The goal of SWANA’s advocacy program is to represent the interests of the solid waste and recycling professions by being a proactive advocate of environmentally and economically sound solid waste legislation and regulations. SWANA monitors state, provincial and federal legislative and regulatory activity to keep our members informed of issues pertinent to the municipal solid waste and recycling field and develops quarterly reports on litigation and legislation. SWANA works with outside groups, coalitions, legislators, and agencies to advance our legislative and regulatory goals. In the recycling area, SWANA has endorsed tax credits and accelerated depreciation for recycling equipment, tax free bonds for recycling facility financing, and state and federal grant funding for local recycling programs.

Get involved with SWANA and its 8,000 members and 45 Chapters in the US, Canada and the Caribbean as we work to advance recycling through a full and extensive catalog of training, education, certification, advocacy, research and recognition programs. There is no better time to join the leading association for solid waste professionals to advance both recycling and your career. Send me your ideas. What else can SWANA do to help its members advance recycling in communities throughout North America?

SWANA OFFERS FIRST SPANISH LANGUAGE TRAINING COURSE

2009-10-29T10:18:00.001-04:00

Silver Spring, MD - SWANA has recently completed the translation of its first Spanish language training course, Waste Screening at MSW Management Facilities. The growing Spanish-speaking workforce and the requests of several Chapters of SWANA for Spanish language materials, along with the creation of the Caribbean-Puerto Rico Chapter of SWANA, prompted the Association’s decision to begin translating current training courses into Spanish.

SWANA has been in the process of updating its training courses over the past few years, and has recently began evaluating which courses would be most useful to Spanish speakers. Currently, the Association has deemed operational courses, such as Waste Screening at MSW Management Facilities, to be most important. Another operational course, Landfill Operations Basics, is expected to be completed in April 2010.

The Waste Screening at MSW Management Facilities course was updated in 2009, thanks to the services of Innovative Waste Consulting Services (IWCS), a consulting firm in Gainesville, Florida. Developed from a university research environment, IWCS has state-of-the-art expertise in areas such as landfills, waste treatment and recycling, and characterization of environmental risk from waste operations. SWANA would like to thank IWSC for a job well done, with a special thanks to Jon Powell, the primary author of the course.

The training course manual presents information and examples of methods and procedures to assist municipal solid waste facility owners and operators to achieve compliance with Federal regulations. The manual is the foundation of the training course, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of 40 CFR, Part 258. The manual and course are intended for use primarily by faclity owners/operators and their consultants and contractors to provide advice on demonstrating compliance with the 258 standards.

The Spanish translation was completed by Strictly Spanish, a consultant firm based in Milford, Ohio, but the project could not have been completed without the assistance of a dedicated team of SWANA members who committed their time, technical expertise and knowledge of the Spanish language to assist in the translation of this course. SWANA would like to extend a very special thanks to:

Josephine Valencia, City of Durham
Eduardo D. Choquis, Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc
Miguel Delgado, SCS Engineers
Rafael Ordonez, Promotora Ambiental
Mickey Ray, The Earth Group, Inc.
Rafael Salazar, Keppel Seghers Inc.
Marissa Segundo, City of Largo

The English and Spanish versions of Waste Screening at MSW Management Facilities course is available for purchase at www.SWANAstore.com as a home study course and an on-site training package. For more information about the English or Spanish versions of the course, please contact learn@swana.org or visit www.SWANA.org.

SWANA ANNOUNCES T. BOONE PICKENS AS THE 2009 WASTECON PRESIDENTIAL KEYNOTE

2009-08-31T15:30:00.001-04:00

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is pleased to welcome T. Boone Pickens as the 2009 WASTECON Presidential Keynote speaker on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center. Mr. Pickens will share his vision for reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil with strategies that include renewable energy sources from solid waste. The Presidential Keynote Session will be moderated by SWANA's incoming International President John Hadfield.

"Mr. Pickens is an internationally acclaimed visionary in the quest for alternative renewable energy supplies," said John H. Skinner, Ph.D., SWANA Executive Director and CEO. "I am sure his presentation will inspire and motivate WASTECON attendees" Skinner added.

T. Boone Pickens is the architect of the Pickens Plan, a solution to America's increasing dependence on foreign oil that he believes is the greatest threat to America's national, economic and environmental security. His campaign, launched in July 2008, has developed a following of more than 1.6 million Americans who support an expanded use of domestic fuel alternatives --chiefly natural gas -- to replace foreign oil/diesel/gasoline. Pickens also has called for the increased use of clean, renewable energy -- solar and wind -- for power generation purposes, as well as an expanded use of nuclear.

The Presidential Keynote session is open to all registered WASTECON attendees.

For more information, go to www.WASTECON.org.

SWANA would like to thank Clean Energy, this year's Presidential Keynote Sponsor.

WASTECON and Your Waste Board

2009-07-15T15:19:00.002-04:00

Check out the recent MSW Editor's Blog, where MSW Management Editor John Trotti wrote the following about WASTECON:

Those of you who have been to WASTECON know how valuable an industry resource the annual event is. More than just a trade expo and program of speakers and classes, WASTECON offers unparalleled opportunities for attendees to meet informally with peers, renew old acquaintances, and match ideas with solid waste professionals from all around the world.

WASTECON 2009 takes place September 22–24 at Long Beach, CA, and, if you are a solid waste manager, what better opportunity could you possibly find for involving your board members, many of whom came to their positions with little or no formal experience in the field? Ready or not, they’re responsible for overseeing the budget and operations of a highly complex, costly, and politically sensitive activity, so what could be more appropriate than WASTECON for allowing them to rub elbows with the most experienced group of people in the industry?

Having served several years as a member of our local transit district board—a post I took up with high regard for my qualifications, only to find I didn’t know diddly squat—I can promise you that the most valuable several days of my tenure were spent at the annual conference put on by SWANA’s counterpart in the transit industry, the American Public Transit Association (APTA). There I became acquainted with APTA members from around the nation and learned firsthand how they approached their responsibilities.

How about suggesting to your waste board that its members go to at least one WASTECON during their tenure to get an overview of the entire field? And along those lines, what could be a better place to start than Long Beach?

SWANA Supports Changes Made to the Climate Bill

2009-05-21T08:02:00.001-04:00

The Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a revised draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 HR 2454 that included a number of changes consistent with SWANA’s recommendations in an April 28 letter.

On Friday, May 15, Chairman Waxman introduced a revised draft of HR 2454 that is much more supportive of waste-to-energy operations and recognizes their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Consistent with SWANA’s recommendations, waste-to-energy operations would no longer be regulated under the cap in this version of the bill. The May 15 draft specifically excludes operations that derive 95% or more of their energy from municipal solid waste.

The revised renewable portfolio standard in HR 2454 includes “qualified waste-to-energy” as an eligible renewable source. Energy derived from the combustion, gasification or pyrolization of municipal solid waste and construction, demolition or disaster debris would qualify as a renewable as long as it meets a number of stipulations.

The draft also includes waste-to-energy as an eligible renewable under the federal renewable purchasing program.

“SWANA is very pleased that the renewable energy and climate benefits of waste-to-energy are now recognized in the climate bill,” said John H. Skinner, Ph.D. SWANA Executive Director and CEO. “While there are still a number of questions and concerns that need to be resolved in the bill’s language, SWANA looks forward to working with the Congress in improving this important legislation,” Skinner added.

On Our Minds: Thoughts of John Hadfield

2009-05-06T08:22:00.002-04:00

A recent telephone conversation has made me think about how we can deal with declining revenues and lower waste quantities while still providing the quality and array of services that our customers (i.e., the public) have come to expect, even in difficult economic conditions. Waste management systems tend to be heavily capitalized, meaning they have a lot of fixed costs that do not decline when quantities decline. Even the more traditional operating costs have a fixed or “readiness to serve” component that is incurred regardless of shifts in quantities. Most systems rely on the tipping fee in whole or in part to generate the revenue needed for the various expenses. When quantities decline, revenues decline, typically much faster than costs decline. So, what is a guy to do?

One answer might be a “Waste generator fee” in which the customers pay a fixed component of charges based on their ability to generate waste. Using different names, this approach is often called economic flow control, but in this instance, I am approaching the issue from a slightly different perspective: not for flow control but for revenue control, at least a portion of the revenue. In its simplest form, this approach would generate consistent revenue regardless of the variations in quantities that stem from uncontrollable circumstances. Rainfall affects quantities but would not affect this revenue stream; holiday seasons can affect quantities but this revenue would be consistent. Similarly, an economic downturn would be less injurious to this source of revenue.

But, you say, what about the political aspects of economic flow control? Well, as we are now hearing, if this was easy, it would already have been done and we could go home. Maybe there are components of this approach that would not work in my community; but maybe some aspects could be implemented. What if this was done for just those customers which are “captured” anyway, through contracts or because the local government provides the service? A two part fee (one part being a waste generator fee; the second part being a truly variable tipping fee) might be more palatable especially to our political leaders who are struggling to finds innovative ways to make ends meet.

Just a thought and maybe we can all weather the storm.

John Hadfield
Vice President, SWANA

What do you think? Post your thoughts and comments below.

Interested in submitting a guest editorial or becoming a SWANA blogger? Email marketing@swana.org with your opinions and thoughts or suggested articles. Become more than just a reader of I AM SWANA News; become a contributor!

Public Service: The Rent We Pay for the Air We Breathe

2009-04-09T09:34:00.001-04:00

The following remarks were made by John Hadfield on his retirement as Executive Director of the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) after 30 years of public service.

I have been very fortunate to have been a public employee for most of my adult life. The past thirty years have been most rewarding for me and I want to thank SPSA’s past Boards of Directors for giving me the chance to serve the region as Executive Director. I most especially want to thank my mentor, friend and SPSA’s first Executive Director, Durwood Curling, whose vision, integrity and courage shaped the agency during its formative years. Without his leadership we would not be here this evening.

Early in my career at SPSA, one of our advisors who later became a friend to many of us, made an observation to me one day. It may not have been his original thought, but the sentiment has remained with me since that day long ago. He told me that “public service is the rent we pay for the air we breathe”. With due respect to the author, I would like to paraphrase that sentiment to say “public service is our obligation in repayment for the benefits of citizenship” – not nearly as well said as the original, but perhaps a clarification.

Many of you are now in or have been in public service. Clearly, that would include public employees, but it also includes those who give of themselves to run for public office, those who volunteer to work at the local food bank, with Habitat for Humanity or at the social services office. In short, public service includes a broad range of things we do for the betterment of the community and our neighbors. In contrast, and without disparaging private enterprise, public service does not create monetary profit; public service seeks no financial reward. Public service has its own very special rewards.

Some years ago, perhaps shortly after my friend had given me the sage advice on public service, one of our national leaders wrongly observed that “government is not the solution to the nation’s ills; government is the problem”. That shortsighted vision led to an era of reduced regulation, deregulation, and no regulation. Among other things, that misguided view led us to many years of shortchanged inspections and deferred maintenance on our national infrastructure that could have prevented the tragedy of the collapse of an interstate highway bridge in Minnesota last year. That “me first” view led us to ignore the incestuous practices of the banking industry and the unchecked greed that paved the way to the housing market collapse that still reverberates throughout our economy today.

Now, I am not here to tell you that government is the solution, but I will remind you that government has a role in advancing the public good. Government and public service have a quintessential duty in shaping our national life, our region’s future and the tomorrows for our children and grandchildren. I believe that there are some things we do in this country that are far too important to the nation’s fabric NOT to be undertaken as a governmental responsibility. The ultimate disposal of our solid waste is among those duties that I believe is so important that it is and must remain a governmental responsibility.

Thirty years ago, the leaders of this region looked around and saw the need for change, for a bold new approach to the way we were managing the solid waste we were creating. They could look around and see a municipal landfill that had a constant fire burning in it. They could see another that would become a superfund site; and another that had explosive gas migrating into nearby city hall buildings. Just down the street from here, a municipal incinerator was under court order to close but the city had no options available to it.

Our leaders of the time saw the problems but they also saw solutions. They knew about the political boundaries but they also knew that environmental problems knew no boundaries. By working together they envisioned a future that none of them could create on their own. They also knew that solid waste management was a core public service.

These dedicated public servants created SPSA, a bold new approach - a regional approach – to solve the crisis of the day. We can criticize them for the mistakes they made, and there were some. Hopefully we have learned from their errors. But we should never forget their vision, their leadership and commitment to make this a better place.

They also understood that the commitment of dedicated public employees brings an invaluable and unique perspective to our environmental challenges, responsiveness to our other citizens and an opportunity to help mold that vision of the future.

SPSA’s employees like other public employees across this country are not highly paid; they are not working for a year-end bonus. They have families with foibles and financial strains like so many others. Their reward is the satisfaction that comes from knowing they have accomplished great things for the common good. Their self-esteem comes not from their paychecks but from the gratitude of their peers, the simple praise of their leaders and the hugs from their families. They deserve the support of all our leaders.

I am proud to have been a part of this agency and for the opportunity to serve the region in a way that I hope will be viewed as valuable. I encourage you to continue to be involved in making where you live a better place than when you arrived. I challenge you to pay the rent on the air you breathe.

Thank you.

MSW Solutions On Our Minds: Thoughts of Sara Bixby

2009-03-03T09:47:00.002-05:00

Did you ever have a week, where through coincidence or maybe serendipity, the same theme keeps repeating? And does the repetition make you start to wonder what it is the universe is trying to tell you and why now?

Tuesday night it was a speaker on wellness talking about the need to encourage employees to embrace healthy activities rather than trying to force them into it. Give them information, give them specific tools, make it easy to participate, he said.

Wednesday night, it was a fellow speaker at the Oklahoma SWANA conference, passionate about driver safety. Drivers have to want to be safe, he said. Rules and lectures work about as far as you can see your drivers or until they know you aren’t watching. They won’t follow the rules until each one grasps the personal ramifications for themselves and their family of not behaving in a safe manner. Make it personal, make it something they own.

Thursday afternoon sitting at the Tulsa airport, I had a chance encounter with an umpiring friend who works for a major airline in, oddly enough, quality control in the maintenance department. We talked about mentoring people to better performance. And then, on the flight between Tulsa and Denver, yet another quality assurance guy, this one a Canadian using ISO 9001 principles to help make improvements and pre-qualify contractors in the oil and gas industry. His point, and that of the retired doctor sitting next to him, was that it takes the personal commitment of every individual throughout a process – beginning to end – to avoid mistakes and create a quality outcome.

Was it just coincidence? Maybe it’s that I need to do a better job of pulling Agency employees into the process of responding to tighter budgets and changes processes? Or was it all a reminder that nothing changes for the better until people believe in and own the goal?

Please join this discussion by clicking on the comment button below or visit I AM SWANA to start your own conversations.

Sara Bixby
2009 SWANA Treasurer

MSW Solutions On Our Minds: Thoughts of Laurie Batchelder Adams

2009-02-03T09:11:00.006-05:00

This year, SWANA is committed to getting MSW Solutions readers involved in the development of this newsletter, starting with what we hope will be a new section titled, "On Our Minds: Thoughts of SWANA Members." This month, SWANA Past-President Laurie Batchelder Adams discusses the recycling markets crisis.

Like any crisis, the recent plunge in recyclables markets forces us to ask some hard questions. The always-easier-said-than-done challenge, of course, is to ask the right questions and take the right actions; to find a way to use the crisis to improve the status quo rather than simply reacting - or worse, over-reacting.

For example, a natural tendency in times of economic stress is to narrow our focus to essential activities - and scale back on forward-looking planning activities. But does it really make sense - now of all times - to shut down the very process that visions and strategizes ways to increase efficiencies, diversify cost and revenue centers, and improve how we structure practices for managing our diversion programs? After all, planning activities rarely result in program changes tomorrow - these changes are usually months and years away. The longer we postpone these processes, the longer it will be until improvements become reality.

Speaking of practices for managing diversion programs:

Should we count on recyclables revenues to balance our budget/maintain our cash flow? Or should we acknowledge that we’re playing a risk-based game where the “ups” are eventually followed by “downs” and maybe breaking even is the most we should hope for? The answer may depend on whether your organization has a long-term contract with fixed prices and a good performance bond to back it up.

Should we pursue long-term market relationships or stick to a spot market approach? Are we ready to accept reasonable, competitive prices from buyers who want reliable, consistent product quality and quantity? Or is the allure of the high up-market prices we enjoyed a year ago too good to equalize in a long-term agreement?

Will floor/ceiling prices or even quantity caps be the norm in future agreements? Should suppliers increase their ability for warehousing recyclables (and therefore the ability to speculate) in future years? If so - how much storage and what pricing are good enough to offset a downturn like this one? The editor of MSW Management magazine recently suggested that the industry consider formal sequestration (storage) of recyclables as a way to maintain supply, allowing domestic end markets to enjoy more stability and longevity. Would this work?

Please join this discussion by clicking on the comment button below. Also, consider joining SWANA’s recycled markets discussions at the Thinking Outside the Blue Box conference in Portland February 9-10. See www.thinkingoutsidethebluebox.org for more details.

Laurie Batchelder Adams
2009 SWANA Past-President

Interested in submitting an MSW Solutions guest editorial or becoming a SWANA blogger? Email marketing@swana.org with your opinions and thoughts or suggested articles. Become more than just a reader of MSW Solutions; become a contributor!

MSW Solutions On Our Minds: Thoughts of SWANA Members

2009-01-12T10:25:00.002-05:00

As we enter the new year, SWANA is committed to getting MSW Solutions readers involved in the development of this newsletter, starting with what we hope will be a new section titled, "On Our Minds: Thoughts of SWANA Members." This month, SWANA President Carl Newby shares his thoughts about the economy and the future of solid waste management.

Today I am pondering what the impact that the drop in the recycling commodity markets will mean to me and my jurisdiction and how long it will last. I am pondering if I have a safe operation and if our training up to date. I am pondering where the price of fuel will be next year and whether I should continue to pay for biodiesel. I am wondering how waste-to-energy will fare with the new Obama administration.

What scares me is that my local government may be forced to eliminate training and memberships in professional groups in response to the current national economic crisis. The information that I use to contemplate the questions I am faced with daily as a solid waste professional comes in very large part from my SWANA training and network. I know I will have good answers for the questions facing my jurisdiction based on my experiences and what I have learned through SWANA. I know I will continue to need the knowledge base that I use daily that comes in large part from SWANA participation.

As I prepare my budget this year, I am working to keep our training and membership dollars. I know my jurisdiction must ask the question about the value of training when funds are so tight. I will answer that it is critical that we keep learning and growing. I will answer that this is an investment in having the best staff we can to handle tight times. I will answer that, to ensure the best environmental and economic solid waste management for us, we must learn from others.

Carl Newby
2009 SWANA President

Interested in submitting an MSW Solutions guest editorial or becoming a SWANA blogger? Email marketing@swana.org with your opinions and thoughts or suggested articles. Become more than just a reader of MSW Solutions; become a contributor!

Conversations from I AM SWANA

2008-12-08T09:05:00.005-05:00

Have you been on SWANA's new online group yet? If you haven't joined the I AM SWANA Online Group then you're missing some great conversations.

This weekend, Jason Hale from Alaska asked about Special Service for the Elderly & Handicapped and he's already getting assistance. And Connie Burns recently asked about Operating Procedures and was able to connect with a fellow online group member to help her review her current practices. Maybe you have some expertise that you can share with Jason or Connie or a question you need help with.

Check out the I AM SWANA Online Group and join the conversation - whether you have a question or want to share your advice.

And attention SWANA British Columbia and Northern Light Members - your chapters have recently opened up chapter groups on I AM SWANA - bringing your local members even closer.

Have an opinion on a recent development in the solid waste industry? Want to share some tips and successes with other solid waste professionals? Write for the I AM SWANA blog and share your views. Just email marketing@swana.org for more information.

Green Marketing and Outreach Campaigns

2008-10-23T23:37:00.002-04:00

Terrence Gellenbeck with the city of Phoenix Public Works Department in Arizona presented his city's new recycling program Wednesday afternoon during the Green Marketing and Outreach Campaign session. Terrence provided excellent information on how they improved their recycling program by rolling out the “Recycling Changes Everything” campaign.

Keys to improving their city’s program included a three part initiative: new slogan, community outreach, and media outreach. The first part of their program included changing their slogan. The city has provided recycling since 1989 and had used the same recycling slogan for eight years, so Terrence believed the city needed a new recycling slogan to revamp and improve the program.

Secondly, community outreach was vital to improving recycling participation and reducing contamination. They formed a focus group and asked residents how to improve the recycling program. The focus group’s best idea was to incorporate pictures on education literature and materials. Terrence said this idea really helped their recycling program.

Lastly, he provided ways to maximize advertising. The city program organizers developed 30-second radio commercials, but radio stations sell advertising in one-minute blocks, so the city worked with a public water organization to share the cost of the advertising.

Another initiative the city of Phoenix rolled out was a bag reduction program. In three months, they found a 12 percent increase number of cloth bags used at grocery stores and an 8 percent decrease of plastic bags being used at grocery stores.

Lessons learned from a new campaign:
Know your customers
Identify key stakeholders
Develop a common vision for your organization
Be cost consciousness

Terrence’s parting words on recycling: It’s more expensive, but it legitimizes what you do.

2008-10-23T11:30:00.002-04:00

For more than two years Roberta Fernandez has committed to taking action to educate others on climate change.

Roberta spoke at Wednesday's keynote presentation and her passion and commitment showed as she talked about Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth climate project message.

Al Gore personally trained Roberta in Nashville to present his climate change message publicly. She said every action taken by an individual or organization that is positive and measurable is meaningful.

Roberta provided clear data about how the planet is becoming hotter and the stated the 9 of the 10 hottest year occurred in our last decade. She provided three reasons why our planet's temperature is changing. I. Population 2. Scientific and technological advances 3. The way we think.

The third reason, the way we think is harder to understand because people may not believe that we have caused the planet to become warmer based on our activities such as industry or driving. Many people don't believe this is a real problem.

Roberta said the misunderstanding is based on media perspective, which tries to explain both sides of the story, when scientific journals clearly and unanimously agree that the planet is warming and burning fossil fuels is a major culprit. We get 86 percent of our energy from burning fossil fuels!

She said every action taken by an individual or organization that is positive and measurable is meaningful. She changed her consulting business into Planet Partnership. It's an organization that educates people to take action in their own lives to reduce their carbon footprint.

Her message was clear, there are no national boundaries when discussing climate change and we're all in this together. So, let's take action and make a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint!

Waste Conversion Technologies: What does the future hold?

2008-10-22T10:58:00.002-04:00

Many communities are adopting greater diversion goals and must find new ways to reduce municipal solid waste. Technologies discussed at Tuesday’s session included Waste-to-Energy, Gasification, Plasma Arc, and anaerobic digestion of MSW.

Dan Costello with DHR Engineering, Inc. presented at the Waste Conversion Technologies session. To improve their waste diversion goals, DHR completed five international tours in three years to get a feel of the global community on waste diversion technologies.

Tour sites were chosen in Asia and Europe, including Japan, Germany and Belgium.
Waste-to-Energy sites are mainly used in Germany and Belgium. With more than 300 plants in Europe, this technology costs about $150-$200 US per ton.

Gasification processes are mainly present in Japan, but not in Europe, Dan said.
This technology seems to work best with more uniform and select waste feedstock. This technology costs about $300 per ton.

The Plasma Arc technology has operational issues due to fuel feed stock that is still being worked out, Dan said. No extension operation studies at a full load rate and cost per ton information were not available on the plasma arc technology.

The last technology he discussed included anaerobic digestion of MSW. Dan stated odor is a problem with this technology and no emissions data is available, though he expected emissions to be low compared to EPA MACT standards.

Patrick Matthews, with Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority in California discussed their research on the autoclave system technology.

The authority is made up of five cities and eastern unincorporated area of Monterey County and generates approximately 260,000 tons of waste per year. Fortunately, their authority diverts 50 percent of their waste, but has set of goal of 75 percent by 2015 and 50 years of sustainable processing/disposal capacity.

With strong opposition to landfills, Patrick wanted to research other technologies to divert waste with less environmental impacts. The authority is conducting a 2-year testing program on the autoclave system.

The autoclave is basically a large pressurized steam cooker and looks like a big cement mixer, Patrick said. The authority is in second year of testing. When speaking about the marketability of products from steaming MSW in the autoclave, high amounts of cellulose remains. Cellulose is a feedstock for ethanol production. The autoclave can process up to 2 tons of municipal solid waste per day up to three times a day and reduces waste volume by 60 percent.

We have to consider new technologies because there will probably not be very many landfills built in the next 10 years, so we have to look at new ways to handle waste stream, Patrick added.

2008-10-21T10:56:00.002-04:00

Greetings fellow trash lovers!

I'm probably not alone saying last night's Opening Reception of SWANA's WASTECON 2008 was a wonderful kick-off to the conference! It's a great, relaxed way to network and make new friends.

I feel such synergy when talking to others about waste reduction, recycling and sustainability! Not only did I chat with folks from the United States, I spoke with attendees from Canada and Australia, this truly is an international conference! It truly makes me believe that we're all in this together.

John Biedenharn, solid waste manager of Coconino County's Public Works Department, which is located in Flagstaff, AZ is looking forward to renewing his professional career with SWANA after being out of the country for more than 10 years. John worked in solid waste careers in Guam and North Queensland, Australia before moving to the states. "The short version of my passion in this work is to try to make a difference. It's the truth," John said.

Also attending last night's festivities included former international president Tom Parker encouraged members of SWANA to become involved with the organization. He has been involved on committees and boards throughout the past 10 years and feels he has gotten a lot more out of the organization by being involved.

Enjoy the conference and please come back to read more of our conference coverage!

Carbon is a Hot Topic - For Everyone

2008-10-19T15:20:00.003-04:00

WASTECON in Tampa is just a days away and it sounds amazing! This year's conference showcases energy and climate issues. There has been a lot of interest and concern about the reducing our carbon footprint lately. It's a hot topic!

Energy use and climate are issues that require assistance and action from an individual, business and governmental perspective. It must be addressed domestically and internationally since we're all in this together, right?

Some of the technical sessions you don't want to miss include: Food Waste to Energy, Sustainable Recycling and How Green is your Landfill? The latter session will discuss how to measure the carbon footprint of your landfill!

Be sure to check out the WASTECON blog at www.wastecon.org for conference information and updates.

I'll see you at Opening Reception!

Maximizing Recovery and Beneficial Use of Disaster Debris - Workshop in conjunction with WASTECON 2008

2008-09-22T07:52:00.002-04:00

Complimentary Workshop Registrations Available for
Florida Public/Government Officials!

On Monday October 20th, Kessler Consulting Inc. (KCI) will present an in-depth workshop on maximizing recovery and beneficial use of disaster debris. Sponsored by Sumter County with a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the workshop will be held in conjunction with SWANA’s upcoming WASTECON Conference (Tampa Bay Convention Center, Monday, October 21 -23, 2008).

This four hour workshop will go well-beyond traditional disaster debris management training courses and focus squarely on implementing tactical plans that maximize recovery and beneficial use of disaster debris. Through a series of intensive case studies and interactive discussions, the workshop will feature the following best practices:
• Pre-planning steps to identify and secure end-markets for vegetative and other storm debris and create processing systems to meet the material quality specifications of those markets;

• Key elements in debris management contracts that require contractors to maximize diversion and beneficial use of vegetative storm debris;

• Public outreach strategies to ensure residents and businesses adhere to storm preparedness guidelines and follow curbside debris set-out procedures that maximize material quality and minimize contamination.

The first 50 Florida public / government officials that register online will be provided with a complimentary workshop registration. The registration deadline for this offer is October 13, 2008. Please remember that you must be a Florida public/government official to take advantage of this offer. All others can register directly through SWANA: http://wastecon.swana.org. Florida public/government officials can register online using the following link: http://workshop-registration.notlong.com.

If you need further assistance with the registration process for Florida public/government officials only please email Jessica DelGrosso with KCI at jdelgrosso@kesconsult.com.

Things To Do in Tampa Bay

2008-09-15T11:06:00.006-04:00

You might know Tampa Bay for its beautiful sunsets and sparkling beaches but there is so much more to enjoy! Acclaimed for its tropical weather and colorful foliage, Tampa Bay also offers diverse attractions and exciting nightlife.

If you want to enjoy a little piece of the “Big Guava” during your stay for WASTECON, you should check out…

Raymond James Stadium

Check out Jon Gruden and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 19th. Click here for ticket information and pricing.

Visit trendy International Plaza for nationally acclaimed restaurants and bars after the game. You’ll enjoy exquisite flavors, artistic presentations, and a dining experience with international inspiration. Capital Grill and The Grape both offer extensive wine collections.

St. Pete Times Forum

Check out Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey after the WASTECON conference. Games start at 7:30 pm and tickets start as low as $15.

October 18th – Wild vs. Lightning
October 21st – Threshers vs. Lightning
October 25th – Sharks vs. Lightning

Tickets can be purchased at the McDonald’s Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster outlets. To order tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 813.287.8844 or 727.898.2100, or call the Lightning Ticket Office at 813.301.6600.

St. Pete Times Forum isn’t just about great hockey – they tout impressive recycling stats too. Here are some recycling facts from their website:

The Times Forum recycles an average of 24,000 pounds of beverage cans per year

It uses more than 320,000 aluminum cans per year with a near 100% recycle record

It uses approximately 70,000 wine and liquor bottles per year; 100% of those are recycled

Its recycling efforts reduce green house gas emissions, equal to taking 123 cars off the road per year

Its energy savings from recycling equals the total energy used by 30 houses per year

Its paper recycling program saves 576 trees from being cut down per year

Its waterless urinals save an average of 1,665,000 gallons of water per year

Singer, songwriter Neil Diamond is performing at the St. Pete Times Forum for only one night on Friday, October 24th, 2008. Tickets are on sale now. Visit the St. Pete Times Forum website for tickets and more information.

Libations after the game?

After the game, hang out with the locals at Hatricks Bar located at 107 S. Franklin St. Tampa. Or, take the charming trolley to trendy Channelside Bay Plaza where you can enjoy a movie, martini or both! You can sing along at the lively piano bar, Howl at the Moon, or catch a fruity drink at Margarita Mama’s or Banana Joe’s. Convenient connections between the vintage replica trollies and streetcars transport visitors between downtown hotels, historic Ybor City and Channelside.

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

TBPAC is located downtown on a picturesque nine-acre site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River, the 335,000 square-foot TBPAC provides an environment for a wide variety of world-class events. It boasts one of the nation's leading Broadway series and is nationally respected for producing grand opera, as well as presenting a wide variety of concerts, performances and events. More than 500,000 patrons attended 4,375 on-site events in TBPAC's 2006-2007 season.

The performing arts complex consists of five distinct theaters, a performing arts Conservatory, a rehearsal hall, boutiques, and three on-site restaurants and banquet facilities. The five individual theaters at TBPAC are Carol Morsani Hall (2,610 seats), Ferguson Hall (1,042 seats), the Jaeb Theater (268 seats), the TECO Energy Foundation Theater (250 seats) and the Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats).

Performances during WASTECON:

October 14th – 19th Wizard of Oz
October 16th – 19th Hats the Musical
October 23rd –November 9th Hats the Musical
October 24th Florida Orchestra presents: Opening Night: Beethoven Symphony No. 7

And that's not even the tip of the iceberg...next time we'll go across the Bay into Pinellas.

Getting in Touch with the Local Committee

2008-09-04T15:28:00.006-04:00

As we near this year’s WASTECON, the local Florida committee has been hard at work setting up a great Wednesday night party, and assisting the SWANA association offices with the other logistics of WASTECON – setting up recycling, recruiting volunteers, etc.

And to give you a better idea of what is going on in FL, we have a guest blogger joining, Rick Clarke with the Pinellas County Solid Waste Dept. Rick currently works in the recycling section of the dept and gives tours and presentation of their facility to local children. As a matter of fact, Pinellas County recently won 2 SWANA Excellence Awards for its education program. Check out some info on their programs here: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/PDF/swo_student_tours.pdf

So check back as Rick gives as an inside view of all things FL as well as a behind the scenes look at the great work the local committee is doing as a guest blogger for Around the Bin.

WASTECON Video Premiere

2008-08-07T17:00:00.004-04:00

SWANA staff put together the following video on WASTECON for the recent International Board Meetings. It was tough, but we were able to get all that WASTECON has to offer in 9 minutes 59 seconds (the limit for video uploads). Check it out:

Can't play the video on the blog? View the clip on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikqOZjoVuKs&NR=1

Have a video on solid waste you'd like to share? Post your links in the comment field or email marketing@swana.org.

WASTECON 2008 Podcast Premiere

2008-08-05T15:12:00.007-04:00

Want a sneak peek at one of over 25 WASTECON sessions? Well now's your opportunity with the premiere WASTECON 2008 podcast.

This podcast, we speak to Del Lisk of Drive Cam, Inc., who discusses the importance of How Driver Risk Management Technologies Can Improve Driver and Environmental Safety.

Listen to this episode

(or right click and select save as to save a copy)

Check out the full presentation on Thursday October 23 at 3:30 pm.

What other techniques do you use to encourage driver safety?

What's your MTCO2E?

2008-07-31T17:16:00.003-04:00

No, it's not the latest pick up line.
No, it's not any of that new-fangled text messaging code.

MTCO2E is short for Metric Ton of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Equivalents. This is the standard measurement for carbon equivalent emissions. In the case of traveling, your mode of transportation and length of stay will create a certain amount of emissions. If you haven't already calculated your MTCO2E for your WASTECON travel, you can take a few moments and use our new online calculator. With the help of our WASTECON Carbon Advisors, HDR, we have created this online tool for each attendee to figure out his or her own emissions for travel to WASTECON.

But wait, I know what you're thinking! Aren't we supposed to be reducing our emissions? Yep! That's right. So, I thought about how we could reduce our emissions from our WASTECON Travel. One idea that I came up with is to start a Ride-Sharing thread on our new WASTECON Group site. Here you can offer a ride or get a ride to the event. You might also find other attendees who you could share a taxi to or from the airport.

That's one idea. What are some of your ideas??

An Interview with Dr. Jean Bogner, this Year's Lawrence Lecturer

2008-07-29T12:54:00.005-04:00

I recently had an opportunity to chat with this year’s Lawrence Lecturer, Dr. Jean Bogner, about waste, energy and climate. Dr. Bogner served as the coordinating lead author of the Waste Management Chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report “Mitigation of Climate Change”. The IPCC was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore. Jean Bogner is the President of Landfills +, Inc., and a Research Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago.

SWANA - Dr. Bogner, thru your own studies and your work on the IPCC report, how have you seen waste impact energy and climate?

Dr. Bogner - There are two things to emphasize with respect to climate and energy. First is that waste is actually a small contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Less than three percent of global anthropogenic emissions are caused by the waste sector. On the other hand, there are also significant opportunities for greenhouse gas mitigation from the waste sector with respect to landfill gas recovery and to activities which either reduce greenhouse gas generation or reduce waste generation such as recycling and waste minimization. Secondly, energy from waste (via landfill gas utilization, waste-to-energy, or use of anaerobic digester biogas) is an important renewable energy resource.

SWANA - How would you recommend a solid waste facility to mitigate their emissions?

Dr. Bogner - Well of course for landfills, landfill gas recovery and utilization, which has been a fully commercial technology now for over thirty years, is a good strategy. Incineration reduces greenhouse gas generation. Also, waste minimization and recycling activities reduce waste generation in the first place. So, I think the “take home” message is that we must preserve all our waste management options and sensibly apply greenhouse gas mitigation strategies that best fit local situations and regulatory guidelines.

SWANA - Do you foresee any new mitigation techniques which are starting to evolve in the industry?

Dr. Bogner - One technique is landfill biocovers, which is a strategy to design and construct landfill covers so that methane is oxidized at high rates before it can be emitted to the atmosphere. The oxidation is accomplished by methanotrophic bacteria which are aerobic microorganisms that naturally live in the soil.

SWANA - How would you encourage those who are collecting the waste to mitigate their emissions?

Dr. Bogner - On the waste collection side there could be opportunities to reduce transport distances, reduce redundant routes, and improve fuel efficiencies.

SWANA - How would you recommend that a facility that is working with either landfill gas or incineration portray the benefits of these technologies to the general public?

Dr. Bogner - I think the tremendous benefits are on the energy side. Landfill gas is roughly fifty percent methane. So there are significant energy benefits to recovering and using the landfill methane for direct use in gas-fired broilers or onsite electrical generation, or for upgrading to a substitute natural gas. Incineration is the pathway where you get the most energy benefit from solid waste through direct combustion.

SWANA - As this years Lawrence lecturer for WASTECON in Tampa, what is one thing that you hope that attendees will really take away from your presentation?

Dr. Bogner - Well as I mentioned at the beginning of this interview, I think the fact that the waste factor is a small contributor to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions but there are significant opportunities within the sector for cost-effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the sector is a small part of the problem but can be a larger part of the solution.

End

Don’t miss Dr. Bogner’s presentation at this year’s WASTECON Lawrence Lecturer Session, Wednesday October 22 at 9:30am as we continue to explore the connection between energy, climate and solid waste.

Member thoughts:
How is your facility mitigating its emissions?
What other mitigating techniques do you see coming down the pike?
Post your comments here.

Around the Bin Is Back

2008-07-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Around the Bin is Back and Better Than Ever – at least that’s the goal – but we need your help! While the blog will begin by focusing on WASTECON, please feel free to discuss anything related to solid waste. The blog is for you and should cover the information that you want and/or need.

The idea of the blog is to give you an outlet to communicate with the other 8,000+ members of SWANA without leaving your home or office. SWANA staff will also be posting news, clips and information on WASTECON 2008 in Tampa to get the conversation started!

So join the blog today by e-mailing marketing@swana.org and share your thoughts! You can:

Provide links to articles, presentations and topics for discussion
Submit videos, photos, podcasts or other web jewels
Participate in SWANA interviews
Comment on other posts
Try something new!

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

P.S. Stay on top of all the latest blog action by subscribing under the Subscribe Now section in the upper right hand column. We have email subscription and RSS Feed (more on RSS in future posts).

2008-06-04T11:49:00.003-04:00

WASTECON 2007 Photo's

2007-11-02T08:35:00.000-04:00

Whether you attended this years event or unfortunately was unable to attend, the WASTECON 2007 photo's recap the fun times you had or missed at the networking events, trade show, educational sessions and so much more.

See you next year in Tampa!

Click here to view pictures now

Warm welcome to incoming SWANA President

2007-10-26T18:27:00.000-04:00

During Thursday's Award Luncheon, Dick Sprague with
HDR read a poem welcoming Laurie Batchelder Adams as SWANA's president.

Ode to Laurie Batchelder Adams

By The Colorado Rocky Mountain Chapter

There once was a lady from Colorado named Laurie
About whom we all can tell quite an amazing story.
In solid waste, she entered our state like a nor’easter
And for a dozen years, proved that it is hard to resist ‘er.

Of companies large and small, she was a member
And onto our chapter board she breezed one September.
She soon volunteered to join a strange group called the IB
Which led to her enshrinement in the hallowed halls of ivy.

For many years, she served as our board’s tie to the mother ship
And helped us better serve and educate our membership.
She often brought news of recent solid waste trends nationwide
Which helped our chapter become more widely diversified.

Her election as President, has made us so proud
That we cannot but hold in our collective shout aloud.
You have been a creative gift to our chapter
And we have a gift for your Presidential hereafter.

CEM- Using Partnerships to Effectively Reach Citizens

2007-10-23T12:27:00.000-04:00

Those attendees willing to stick it out past lunch on the last day were treated to a great set of environmental program PR hints and strategies, provided by Julie Berbiglia, of Metro Beatification & Environment Commission, Nashville, TN and Steve Thompson, Program Director with Curbside Value Partnership.

Julie’s program provides the environmental education and promotion for Metro Nashville Public Works recycling as well as other community beautification outreach. She detailed the use of student groups looking for projects to accomplish various community environmental projects such as litter collections, illegal flyer/sign removal, and flower plantings. In addition, student or community groups are given free usable paint, collected via Metro’s HHW program, for graffiti abatement painting projects. Neighborhood groups are able to adopt a road median, providing initial planting labor and continued upkeep, specified within the Metro agreement. Using local public access television, the Commission airs ready-made information on their various environmental issues in the form of slides, movies, or “commercials” highlighting each program. These are available for the station to use as time allows.

Thorough an “accidental” grass-roots movement, the Commission was able to obtain space for a public recycling drop-off site in a neighborhood currently underserved by the current recycling program. When a Commissioner was purchasing refreshments for a local recycling event, they got to talking to the local Wal-Mart Manager. The Manager offered to host a public recycling drop-off site in the store’s parking lot. During the opening of the site, other area Wal-Mart Managers attended and asked to host site at their stores as well!

Offering further free PR resources, Steve Thompson mentioned Curbside Value Partnership’s Bin Buzz newsletter and Recycling Education Tool Kit. The newsletter is made available, free of charge, via a mailing list. Free resources on the Tool Kit are downloadable from CVP’s website or you may request a CD be sent. CVP provides items such as general environmental and recycling articles and information, PSAs, and promotions formats.

Using Partnerships to Effectivley Reach Citizens

2007-10-19T13:18:00.000-04:00

This Thursday afternoon session really provided some great tips to improve recycling participation!

Steve Thompson with Curbside Value Partnership, stompson@recyclecurbside.org provided valuable information on curbside recycling participation. He said about half of citizens have access to recycling, but only half of those folks recycle. So, that said, only about one-fourth of citizens across the United States recycle through their curbside program. Let see if we can change that statistic.

His organization provides a free recycling communicator's tool box. Go to their Web site at www.recyclecurbside.org. Not only will you find the communicator's tool box, you'll also find free public service announcements in English and Spanish that can be modified with your city's contact information.

Also, any organization promoting curbside recycling must provide continuous public education. Steve estimates that $1 per household should be spent on recycling education. He also told conference attendees to spend $2 0r $3 per household on recycling education if the program has changed or improved dramatically! He added it was the most valuable money spent to increase recycling rates. Not only were more people recycling, but the volume in each bin also increased!

CEM Tech Division Thoughts

2007-10-18T00:42:00.000-04:00

Members and interested attendees gathered Wednesday afternoon to discuss the focus and direction of the Communication, Education, & Marketing Technical Division. The session was held in the back corner of the exhibit hall to allow more exposure to exhibitors while drawing attendees into networking opportunities.
CEM members expressed interest in SWANA creating a database of CEM program information including types of CEM information each program uses as well as demographics on the community served. Members felt this could be used as a resource when looking for information on other's in similar communities, position titles, programs, or to compare types of CEM outreach used and effects.
While CEM does maintain a listserv for information exchange, like the other SWANA Technical Divisions, some members expressed the need for a static directory of CEM member information to be used by others as reference.

Engaging the Public: Marketing and Outreach Campaign

2007-10-17T17:21:00.000-04:00

Here's a quick glance at the Wendnesday session: Engaging the Public: Marketing and Outreach Campaign

Three speakers provided their municipalities’ success stories when reaching out to improve recycling programs. Effective recycling programs require proper planning, outreach and marketing. All the speakers agreed that doing their homework helped them learn how to effectively communicate their message through an education campaign.

Heather Merchant with the city of Plano in Texas helped kick off a public awareness campaign called Living it Green in Plano. She had the desire to build support and increase participation with green practices among residents.

After securing grant funds, Heather started with market research and analysis, then a public awareness campaign, and an environmental expo to build awareness in Plano.

She found the best way to communicate her city’s message was getting to know the target audience through focus groups and phone surveys. She also discovered that the most difficult thing for residents to answer is the definition of sustainability. Most residents couldn’t name sustainable practices other than recycling.

Heather also discussed how she found success by campaigning a full year with several events, with the premiere event being a family-friendly expo with games, food and fun to promote their environmental message. The event also held workshops, sold native plants and compost, provided giveaways and incentives to expo attendees. About 7,500 folks attended the expo! Repeating a multi-media messages proved to be one of the most effective ways that the city of Plano continued to reach households.

Branding is also a way to make sure you build awareness. The more someone can recognize your logo, the more they will use the concept.

Another speaker, Dennis Guy from Hamilton Ontario shared his marketing success in a higher population city with more than 500,000 residents and approximately 165,000 households. He suggested not getting caught up in how the marketing looks, but more about making sure that the message it expressed.

In my opinion, the best message for municipalities during the session was using a multi-year media campaign because many cities have a small budget for marketing and this method allows the city to spread out their advertising dollars. By showing the media outlet that they'll have repeat business, they're more willing to work with the municipality to get their message out.

Nobody Notices Normal

2007-10-17T17:19:00.000-04:00

What a great start Tuesday morning with opening breakfast speaker Scott Ginsberg, "The Name Tag Guy." He's not just any name tag sporting chap. Scott has committed to wearing a name tag 24-hours a day, seven days-a week!After leaving the guest speaker breakfast, several folks walked throughout the Solid Waste Exhibit Hall displaying Scott's business card on their name badge, as Scott's new friend. I'm happy to say that, I too, am Scott's new friend. I think he showed us how we can all benefit from practicing approachability skills.I decided to name this blog after something Scott said that truly seemed vital to any new relationship you build. Nobody notices normal. I think we all strive to be unique, but not so unique that we're different. So, by being unique we're making a name for ourselves, so others won't do it for us. Great message, Scott.I may never truly commit wearing a name tag as Scott, but kudos on his vision of doing something that is being noticed!Edwin Duncan of Surprise, Ariz. believes he will make better relationships in his city as the new university solid waste/recycling supervisor. Edwin is working to establish relationships within his city to improve curbside recycling for Surprise's 150,000 residents. The city has a recycling participation rate of approximately 25 percent. He plans to use Scott's approachability tips to get his recycling message out to residents.Scott, 27, told us during the opening breakfast that he has worn a name tag, each day, for the past 2,539 days. And that being said, Scott made a wonderful point that we should all use in our daily lives: Consistency is far better than rare moments of greatness!
posted by Serina at 7:55 PM on Oct 16, 2007

Opening Reception

2007-10-17T17:11:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow trash lovers! First, I would love to say that I had a wonderful time at the Opening Reception of SWANA's WASTECON 2007 tonight. I feel such synergy when talking to others about waste reduction, recycling and sustainability! Not only did I chat with folks from the United States, I spoke with attendees and trainers from Canada and Central America. It truly makes me believe that we are all in this together. The highlight of the evening was talking with four gentlemen from Central America. They're interested in learning how North America manages their trash and recycling. Costa Rica and Honduras are both very ecologically conscious countries, their big challenge is to find efficient ways to manage garbage and recycling. Milton Fonseca with Waste Placement Professionals wants to improve waste treatment and recycling, become a part of the carbon trade and help make his country more sustainable. Costa Rica wants to become one of the first carbon nuetral countries. And, as you all know, carbon dioxide is a very hot topic - for everyone. Randall Cerdas Corella, also of Costa Rica is training while at WASTCON to ensure that his country is at the forefront of proper trash management. During a landfill tour Monday, he learned that his landfill is much different than other landfills in Nevada. His country receives more than 200 inches of rain, while Nevada receives less than 5 inches. That is an amazing difference! Corella explained that his landfill required a leachate collection system because of the high amount of rain. Another difference is the lining system. His landfill in San Pedro requires a liner. Another attendee, David McCary of SanAntonio, Texas also discussed some really interesting issues facing his area. McCary started in the solid waste business 30 years ago as a trash collector. Today, he is the director of the solid waste management department. His division is looking at more than just taking trash off the street, they're also looking at renewable energy. His city is rolling out 15 trucks with alternative fuel. The alternative fuel is compressed natural gas. According to McCary, it runs 90 percent cleaner. He added that he wanted to start using the technology before it was mandated in 2010. I hope you enjoyed hearing from a few of the conference attendees. I hope you enjoy the conference and please come back to read more of our conference coverage!

So Many Exhibits; Bring Back Gifts!

2007-10-17T13:15:00.000-04:00

The Exhibit Hall opened Tuesday with a flurry of activity. Many rows of booths displaying equipment and services met the attendee. It was great to see so many new products and companies as well as the tried and true SWANA regulars and their competition. What a great opportunity for attendees to "shop" for what they need in the way of solid waste services, equipment, and products. Where else can you go to one room and see or touch the types of equipment you are considering for your program; where else can you talk to multiple individuals providing diverse services which you may not have even known existed!

A number of events drew attendees to the exhibit hall such as drawings for prizes and offering of snacks to get us through before the long afternoon of sessions. Of course there are the usual knick knacks we can pick up from each booth, including candy and giveaways displaying each vendor's name or logo, not allowing us to forget who we may wish to contact for more information later.

One tip for attendees: You may have all the knick knacks, neat pens, notepads, and such that you could use, but don't forget your staff who were not able to attend WasteCon with you- bringing back small "souvenirs" for them reminds them they were not forgotten during your trip and appreciates the work they did in your absence to keep the program running. I have often seen that "special pen" being used for months after by someone who's assistance is invaluable to the organization. Besides, don't forget the kids either; they love this stuff!

WASTECON 2007 is no gamble...

2007-08-29T12:20:00.000-04:00

We all know we will be winners attending this years WASTECON for various reasons, but what specifically is motivating you to attend? Maybe it is for the awesome exibition floor (who does not like big equipment and demonstrations?) or maybe it is for the largest-ever technical session certain to provide you with golden nuggets of information, or maybe the facility tours have captured your attention, or maybe it is for the social and networking opportunties you get with solid waste professionals just like yourself. These are just a few reasons, but I am curious what motivated you to hang with the solid waste high rollers this year.
See you around the bin, Jenna
P.S. I know you rolled your eyes at more gamling metaphors, but they are kind of fun to think up...

Meet the Bloggers

2007-08-23T12:01:00.000-04:00

The WASTECON 2007 Bloggers are all members of the SWANA community. We hope you will join in the conversation through your comments. If you would like to join us as a WASTECON Blogger, send a note to marketing@swana.org and let us know.

Jenna Jambeck

Jenna Jambeck, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil/Environmental Engineering at the University of New Hampshire. She is free spirited and always dreams big, and she works hard to make her dreams come true. Jenna met her husband while working at the University of Florida Bioreactor Landfill Research Project, where they shared sunsets on top of the landfill. She is excited to be a blogger for WASTECON 2007.

Michelle Minstrell

Michelle Minstrell is a Project Manager at Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc. (GBB). She has worked with Waste and Recycling in Washington State and North Carolina. Her experience ranges from transfer stations and landfills to special waste collections, construction wastes, and electronics, in both private and public capacities. She is a graduate of The Evergreen State College. She looks forward to blogging from the conference in real time about the conference happenings.

Serina Wilkins

Serina Wilkins is a Public Education Coordinator in the Benton County Solid Waste District in Arkansas. Before working for the Benton County Solid Waste District, she worked as a reporter and photographer for the Benton County Daily Record in Bentonville, Ark. She has a photojournalism degree from Arkansas State University. She looks forward to keeping you updated from WASTECON about WASTECON.