SWANA Announces 2009 Professional Achievement Award Winners

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Professional Achievement Awards. The Awards Program was developed to recognize individuals who, through the course of their careers, have made significant contributions to the solid waste management profession.
Each of the winners was recommended by the International Awards Committee and each recommendation was approved by the Executive Committee during SWANA’s Mid-Year Meetings held in Savannah, Georgia in May.

Professional Achievement Award—Public Member
Russell Reiserer, Solid Waste Manager
City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California

Mr. Reiserer has worked for the City of Palo Alto since 1980 and has overseen various engineering and solid waste management programs. He is currently responsible for the City’s landfill and composting operations as well as many educational programs. Mr. Reiserer has been a member of SWANA for over 26 years.

Life Member Award:
Patrick Holland, Executive Director (Retired)
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, Cleveland, Ohio

Mr. Holland has been an active SWANA member for over 15 years, serving in many leadership positions and as SWANA faculty. His career in the solid waste industry has spanned nearly 30 years. Mr. Holland was a founding director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, the largest district in Ohio, and served as the Executive Director for 19 years before retiring.

Life Member Award:
Robert P. Stearns, Chairman and Founding Principal
SCS Engineers, Long Beach, California

Mr. Stearns was a co-founder of SCS Engineers in 1970 and has provided the organization with more than 35 years of experience in engineering analysis and design of solid waste management systems. Mr. Stearns has been the recipient of the Outstanding Civil Engineer Achievement Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award from SWANA, and was inducted into the Environmental Industries Associations Hall of Fame.

The winners will be recognized at WASTECON 2009 in Long Beach, California, during SWANA’s Annual Awards Luncheon on Thursday, September 24, 2009.