SWANA has several research reports available to members. Join us to learn about the SWANA Applied Research Foundation and its contributions to advancing research and learning to benefit waste and resource management. In this session, you will learn about the findings of the latest research reports on topics including recycling, landfills, waste to energy, and more.

About the Speakers

Jeremy O’Brien
Applied Research Lead | Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)

Jeremy O'Brien has worked at SWANA for over 25 years and has been in the industry since the mid-1970s. As SWANA's Director of Applied Research, he works with industry innovators on key research issues and prepares timely reports that benefit Applied Research Foundation subscribers and SWANA members, as well as the industry. 

Christina Seibert
Executive Director | Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, IL

Christina Seibert is the Executive Director for the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), an intergovernmental agency comprised of 23 municipalities in north and northwest Cook County, Illinois.  Her role carries responsibility for all operational aspects of the agency, including managing a $14M annual budget and a professional staff of 4.  The agency owns a transfer station and sponsors special collection programs for electronics, sharps and medications, batteries, bulbs, and document destruction. She also advises members on their waste collection contracts and provides support in all areas of waste and recycling planning and program implementation.

Prior to SWANCC, Christina spent 21 years as a consultant in the solid waste and recycling arena, advising both units of local government and private waste companies on planning, policy, program, and contract matters. She led market assessments, economic evaluations, solid waste and recycling plans, and facility development and permitting efforts for all types of waste and recycling facilities. Christina has extensive experience across the Chicago market and northern Illinois, having grown up and lived in this area her whole life; her consulting work, however, gave her unique experience working with communities across the U.S., including many with aggressive diversion goals and progressive environmental policies such as Los Angeles and Austin, Texas.

Christina is the current President of the Illinois Chapter of SWANA and has served on the chapter's SWANA board since 2005. She is certified faculty for SWANA’s training courses, Managing Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems (which she also authored) and Zero Waste Principles and Practices.