How to Maximize Your Chance for Success on the MOLO Certification Exam

The job of a manager of landfill operations, or MOLO, is incredibly challenging and the costs of not doing it well can have serious consequences, bringing harm to workers and the public alike. SWANA is committed to helping MOLOs learn the job and demonstrate their expertise and knowledge by earning the coveted Landfill Management certification. The journey to certification success begins by reviewing the MOLO Body of Knowledge, or BoK.

How to Use the MOLO Body of Knowledge

A “body of knowledge” is a term used to represent the complete set of concepts, terms, and activities that make up a professional domain, as defined by a relevant industry professional society or trade association. In the case of the MOLO BoK, the defining organization is the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).

With guidance from industry, SWANA developed the MOLO BoK to define the core competencies and associated skill sets required of today’s MOLOs. It is a comprehensive document that organizes job knowledge areas across four major categories: Foundational, Technical, Strategic, and Management.

Individuals seeking to become SWANA-certified MOLOs should begin by reviewing the complete Body of Knowledge to assess their readiness to sit for the MOLO certification exam.

The BOK provides prospective certification holders with a valuable roadmap for identifying skill and knowledge gaps. Once those gaps are identified, you can proceed with filling them with quality education and training, such as SWANA’s Manager of Landfill Operations course and other courses in landfill management.

Individuals seeking MOLO certification should note that taking a course, even SWANA’s MOLO course, does NOT guarantee success on the exam. Passing a certification exam requires amassing knowledge, skills, and abilities over time from a variety of sources; no one course provides all the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to pass the MOLO certification exam. Knowledge is gained over time from years of experience in the field; online courses, webinars, and podcasts; in-person seminars and events; hands-on workshops; on-the-job training; local, regional, and national conferences; mentoring programs; trade publications; and more. Thus, the MOLO course should be considered as just one resource that can be used to help prepare for MOLO certification.

Use of the Body of Knowledge Across Industry Roles

Creating a well-crafted BoK was a priority for SWANA. It had to serve as an important reference that can be used across the waste disposal industry. It is a practical tool, one that helps shape the role of the manager of landfill operations in a variety of ways:

• Increased Understanding of the Role of the MOLO
  • The BoK provides a foundation of understanding the role of the MOLO for those new to the profession, and the necessary framework for experienced MOLOs and all associated staff to better understand each of their roles.

• Training
  • The BoK is used by employers to assess their employees’ knowledge and skills and identify areas that need additional training or information.
  • Current and aspiring MOLOs use the BoK to self-assess their knowledge and skills and fill any gaps.
  • The BoK helps educational organizations, whether formal, secondary education, trade associations, or individual organizations, to further create relevant training content for MOLOs.

• Certification Development
  • Certification entities, such as SWANA, use it to create training, assessments, and certification exams to educate and certify MOLOs.

• Hiring and Evaluation
  • Hiring managers use the BoK to develop and refine job announcements and position descriptions.

• Performance Evaluation
  • Employers use the BoK to assess the performance of workers in this critical job role.

The MOLO BoK is a public industry resource and available to you free of charge.