Advocacy
SWANA has a strong commitment to safety and is determined to help move the waste collection industry off of the federal government’s list of 10 most dangerous jobs and reduce accidents and injuries. These safety initiatives represent part of that effort.
SWANA recognizes that, in the solid waste industry safety matters! #SWANASafety
SWANA Safety Awards honor safety best practices and successes.
Safety First is a weekly newsletter with safety tips to share at meetings and for posting around your workplace.
Help share SWANA resources at Hauler Safety Outreach events across North America.
Take the SWANA Safety Pledge to show your commitment to protecting yourself and others from harm every day.
SWANA Safety Ambassadors serve as safety leaders in all 47 chapters in the United States and Canada.
SWANA has a safety campaign of five simple tips to help solid waste workers stay safe on the job.
Slow Down to Get Around is a national safety campaign reminding motorists to drive more carefully when near waste and recycling collection vehicles.
American National Standards (ANSs) applicable to Equipment Technology and Operations for Wastes and Recyclable Materials.
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Silver Spring, MD – The Solid Waste Association of North America ( SWANA) has issued several important documents for members to use to identify themselves as “essential critical infrastructure” workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more states and cities issue emergency declarations limiting non-essential work and travel, these documents will allow solid waste and recycling workers and others to provide documentation demonstrating their exemption to law enforcement personnel and others if necessary. The letter and vehicle placard cite the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) March 19, 2020 memo and applicable state and local emergency declarations.
The letter is accompanied by a cover memo directed to employers instructing them on how to customize the letter and effectively distribute it to their employees. SWANA recognizes in this unprecedented situation that clear communication with the public and state and local officials is vital to protecting worker and public safety.
“We have received calls and emails from waste haulers across the United States seeking guidance concerning how their workers will be able to demonstrate to law enforcement officials that their employees are considered essential. This letter, which is available on our website to both members and non-members, will assist haulers and others create a customized letter to provide to their workers. This will be particularly helpful for when employees and contractors are going to or from work in their personal vehicles, stated David Biderman, SWANA Executive Director and CEO.
Download the letter, memo, and placard here.
Additional guidance for the waste industry concerning the Coronavirus pandemic is available on SWANA’s website at https://swana.org/initiatives/guidance-on-coronavirus-(covid-19).
July 11, 2025
Safety First: Conveyor Belt Safety
Check out our tips to prevent an injury when working at or near a conveyor belt.
July 03, 2025
Safety First: Dehydration Prevention
Stay safe on the job with our tips to prevent dehydration and reduce the risk of heat illness and physical strain.
June 27, 2025
Safety First: Heat Acclimatization
As new heat records continue to hit the US and Canada this summer, read our tips on acclimatization to build a healthy tolerance to heat and stay safe on the job.