CEO Column

By: David Biderman, SWANA Executive Director and CEO

Who’s ready for the new normal? I know I am.

Earlier this year, we anticipated things returning to something resembling normal after Labor Day. New cases and fatalities were declining sharply as life-saving vaccines were being distributed widely in the United States and Canada. People were starting to travel again for both business and pleasure, and many companies and local governments were planning their “return to the office” after Labor Day. Instead, the Delta variant has surged through the unvaccinated and caused “breakthrough” cases in a small number of vaccinated individuals, though thankfully, few of the breakthrough cases have resulted in hospitalization.

Despite the recent third COVID wave, the inaugural SWANA Region 6 conference took place last month in Roanoke, Virginia, and I was one of the speakers. The conference, which used to be known as the Quad States Conference, brought together members from the Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky chapters. It is one of SWANA’s larger regional events and drew more than 200 participants to Roanoke.

I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with old friends and members and making new friends while attending the conference. Two themes came through repeatedly in my conversations with participants: (1) it’s great being back together at an industry event; and (2) we need to live our lives again.

I agree, which is why we are continuing to plan for WASTECON^® in Orlando in November. Many SWANA members want to get back together in person. Vendors wants to market their equipment and services. SWANA needs to bring its Strategic Planning work groups, which have been meeting virtually for the past few months, together for an in-person discussion about the future of your association. We have a strong desire to be together and feel like we are living our lives again.

So, barring a further negative change in the situation, we will hold WASTECON^® in Orlando. SWANA staff met with Florida chapter representatives and visited the Gaylord Palms last week to review their safety protocols and discuss how to best protect WASTECON^® participants during the event. We will provide as safe an experience as we can. I can’t stress enough, however, that the delivery of that safe experience requires your help. Please get vaccinated before attending. Wear a mask when you are within six feet of others when you are indoors in public spaces. Work to maintain good social distancing. Wash your hands frequently. Stay home if you have an elevated temperature or any other symptoms. All of these things protect you and those around you and allow all of us to live our lives again – safely.

SWANA is the leading waste and recycling association in the United States and Canada. This is because of all of you –members, chapters, Technical Divisions, YPs, Board and staff! The front-line workers in the industry didn’t stop collecting, processing, and disposing of trash when the pandemic started in March 2020. The hard-working SWANA staff didn’t stop working either. They have been planning a terrific conference with top-notch speakers, including: GFL’s CEO Patrick Dovigi, Waste Management’s Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Tara Hemmer, who will be our Lawrence Lecturer; and CEO of Closed Loop Partners Ron Gonen. The lineup includes prominent government representatives, including EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator Carlton Whitehouse, a global expert on Environmental Justice, and the Safety Summit features the Regional OSHA Administrator. The program includes new faces and challenging topics, such as Rueben Stokes, who will discuss Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and Jeff Kirschner from Litterati, who will discuss how local governments can address litter. We are also pleased to welcome back popular speakers such as Rebecca Ryan, an acclaimed futurist who spoke at WASTECON 2019 in Phoenix, and Mark Bernheimer, a former CNN reporter who spoke at virtual WASTECON about how to deal with the media.

The new normal is arriving soon. Join us in Orlando to learn how to figure out how to navigate these uncharted waters.