CEO Corner

One of the many benefits of being a SWANA member is being part of a global network of solid waste professionals through SWANA’s affiliation with the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). Over the past few years, SWANA’s direct involvement in solid waste management outside of the United States and Canada has increased, as we have written reports for the Inter-American Development Bank, provided training programs for Colombia and in Belize, and additional training events are on the horizon in several developing nations.

ISWA offers SWANA members the opportunity to participate in one of ISWA’s ten Working Groups (WGs), which serve a similar function to our Technical Divisions. The ISWA WG’s meet on a quarterly basis, usually virtually, to address global solid waste concerns. Interested in expanding your network beyond Canada and the United States? Consider volunteering to be a member of an ISWA WG.

The ISWA Working Groups are:

1. Biological Treatment of Waste
2. Climate Change and Waste Management
3. Collection and Transport Technology
4. Communication and Social Issues
5. Energy Recovery
6. Government and Legal Issues
7. Hazardous Waste
8. Healthcare Waste
9. Landfill
10. Recycling and Waste Minimisation

I have participated in several WG meetings over the past eight years and the exchange of information and ideas is terrific. You will meet a lot of interested people around the world who share your passion for solid waste management and overcoming the common challenges we all face, regardless of whether we work in North America, Europe, or elsewhere. More information about the ISWA WGs is here.

If you are interested in being a SWANA representative on an ISWA WG, please fill out the nomination form and send it to me, so I can forward it to ISWA. We have a limited number of slots on each WG, so I ask SWANA members to inform me of their first, second, and third choices. If you are not selected, there will be ample opportunities in the future to participate in ISWA events and on their WGs.

Solid waste management is increasingly viewed as a global problem. Some refer to it as a crisis as waste generation in many growing cities in developing nations exceeds capacity for safely managing it and dumpsites spew methane into the atmosphere. Many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America lack adequate recycling systems and facilities.

The World Bank published a report a few years ago that concluded that Planet Earth will generate 3.4 billion tons of waste per year by 2050. There is no time to waste. Let’s work to improve and upgrade solid waste management systems on all seven continents and leave our children and grandchildren a cleaner and greener planet.