CEO Column

By: David Biderman, SWANA CEO and Executive Director

I’m feeling thankful.

It’s been a challenging year, but with the holidays coming up, it’s a good time to reflect on what we should be thankful for.

I’m particularly thankful that no one in my family has gotten COVID. I know a lot of friends and business associates who have, and sadly, several have passed away. Now that everyone in my family has been vaccinated, I hope that even if someone does get COVID, it will be a mild case. I am certainly tired of wearing a mask at events and conferences.

I’m also thankful for my SWANA family. The staff at #TeamSWANA is terrific and makes me a better leader and manager every day. The Board of Directors, and in particular, our superb officer corps, have provided valuable guidance and feedback throughout the year that has helped SWANA not merely survive the pandemic, but emerge from it as a stronger association. I am looking forward to the next steps on the Strategic Plan, which we discussed in Florida, and that will guide this great association’s path for the next five years. I am thankful that the recent chapters survey reveals general happiness with our support to and communications with the chapters, even as we are committed to continuing to improve relationships with all 47 SWANA chapters! I particularly appreciated the very positive feedback on our communications regarding health/safety and advocacy issues.   

I am thankful that we can once again plan and attend trade shows, meetings, and conferences to renew old friendships and build new relationships in person. It was terrific to see so many SWANA members enjoy WASTECON earlier this month in Orlando. They certainly appreciated the great speakers and the exhibit hall, but I sense what they really enjoyed was being together with other solid waste professionals, catching up, and sharing their pandemic stories. Thank you to the nearly 1,000 people who attended WASTECON. I look forward to seeing many of you at SOAR in Kansas City in March 2022.

Earlier this week, I participated in a Keep America Beautiful (KAB) conference on America Recycles Day (ARD) in Washington, D.C. The conference provided an opportunity to hear from EPA about the National Recycling Strategy, which was issued on November 15.  It was also an opportunity to sit at the same table with friends from KAB and the scrap recycling association (ISRI), meet EPA officials who I’d only “met” via Zoom, and network with some of the KAB affiliates (some of whom are SWANA members). It was delightful!

As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, among SWANA’s top priorities will be supporting implementation of the National Recycling Strategy and the solid waste and recycling grant programs found in the Infrastructure Bill signed by President Biden. We continue to read about cities dropping curbside recycling programs, despite the sharp rebound in commodity prices in 2021. The National Recycling Strategy and the new grants will provide further support for local recycling programs in 2022 and beyond. SWANA will expand its outreach to the media and others to change the narrative that recycling is “broken” or failing. Far from it. Recycling is profitable, creates valuable feedstock for domestic manufacturers, creates jobs, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a big win-win.

Finally, I am thankful that every day, I get to wake up and lead this great association. It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for allowing me to do so, and for allowing me to take a few days off next week to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.

Best wishes to you and your families for a very Happy Thanksgiving.