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SWANA & NSWMA Comment On Epa Greenhouse Gas Reporting

In a joint letter to the U.S. EPA, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) commented on the agency’s draft mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting and its potential impact on municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. As the EPA proceeds with requirements identifying reporting sectors in this rulemaking process, NSWMA and SWANA requested the following be considered:

  • The solid waste sector has substantially reduced GHG emissions.
  • A protocol for estimating fugitive landfill emissions should be established.
  • Carbon sequestration should be accounted for in estimating GHG emissions of individual landfills.
  • Strong enforcement authorities make third-party verification unnecessary.
  • Biogenic GHG emissions should not be a mandatory reporting element of a federal program.

    • NSWMA President and CEO Bruce Parker said, “The waste management industry is aggressively responding to the challenges presented by climate change and how the industry’s carbon footprint can be reduced. We are leaders in the innovative production of renewable energy from the disposal of waste, and any reporting system should acknowledge the progress that we’ve made in this area.”

    “Environmentally sound solid waste management practices can make an important positive contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions” added SWANA Executive Director and CEO John H. Skinner, “It is important that any reporting system encourage these practices” he added.

    The EPA greenhouse gas reporting would mandate reporting of greenhouse gas among all industries, including municipal solid waste, above the EPA determined threshold. The EPA is still in the process of developing the rule’s guidelines.

    About NSWMA:

    The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.nswma.org.

    About SWANA:

    For 40 years, SWANA, the Solid Waste Association of North America, has been the leading professional association in the solid waste management field. SWANA’s mission is “to advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound management of municipal solid waste.” SWANA serves over 8,000 members and thousands more industry professionals with technical conferences, certifications, publications and a large offering of technical training courses. For more information, visit www.SWANA.org.

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    About SWANA

    The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is an organization of more than 10,000 public and private sector professionals committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through their shared emphasis on education, advocacy and research. For more than 60 years, SWANA has been the leading association in the solid waste management field. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical conferences, certifications, publications and a large offering of technical training courses.

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