CEO Column

The past few months haven’t exactly been a walk in the park.

All of us have been profoundly challenged on both a personal and professional basis by the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve changed how we interact with others; friends and family have gotten sick from coronavirus, many of us are working from home; and the economy has taken a sharp dip, with the unemployment rate at its highest level since the Great Depression.

The question is, how to do we recover?    

What can we do to obtain the elusive “new normal” that allows us to eat at restaurants, go to the movies, work in an office, or fly on an airplane? When can we safely shake someone’s hand again, or give them a hug? What guidance do we need from local, state, and federal officials, and other trusted sources of information (including SWANA) to resume normal personal and professional interactions?

I don’t pretend to know all the answers to these and other questions, but I can promise you that SWANA is working hard to help prepare you and the solid waste industry for the inevitable recovery from the pandemic. Just as we provided timely and useful guidance on how to protect your employees from COVID-19, and on the changes caused by COVID and the resulting economic downturn, we are developing resources on transitioning to a post-COVID work environment.

Some of the guidance will be common sense: social distancing will likely be with us for a while; people need to wash their hands with soap frequently and use hand sanitizer; sick employees should not be coming to work; immuno-compromised workers likely need special consideration and accommodation.

There are more difficult questions: should employers provide PPE to office employees? Who is responsible for wiping down a frequently touched surface (the employer? the last person who touched it? facility services? All of the above?). How do we plan for a reduction in residential waste generation as people go back to the office? How much of a reduction do we expect? How do we plan for the expected increase in commercial waste generation as businesses re-open, and how will it differ by location? When will policymakers resume their pre-COVID focus on important issues such as the future of recycling and PFAS?

In the face of these and other uncertainties, how do we provide the necessary and essential service of managing our communities’ solid waste in these fiscally and economically challenging times?

At SWANApalooza, we will start the conversation about the recovery. The Opening Keynote session will feature New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, who will discuss how DSNY responded to being at the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis and how the lessons learned can lead to increased resilience in providing local government services. The Closing Keynote session will focus exclusively on the recovery and will feature industry leaders who will provide you and your team with insights and guidance for how to navigate the uncharted waters that are in front of all of us.

The past few months have been very challenging for the entire SWANA community and their families. TeamSWANA is working from home and has done an amazing job – and like many of you, have tightened our belt and postponed new hires – and continues to provide you with the member services and programs you’ve needed – whether a webinar on recycling, the latest federal safety guidance on COVID, or assistance with your certification. As we prepare the slow transition back to our office in Silver Spring, we hope all of you, and your families, friends, and co-workers, are staying safe, strong, and optimistic. Better times are coming.