SWANA Applauds EPA’s Rebranding of its Annual MSW Report

SWANA Applauds EPA’s Rebranding of its Annual MSW Report
New Branding Consistent with SWANA’s Strategic Plan

Silver Spring, MD –The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rebranding of its annual Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) report released on June 17, 2015.

The EPA’s report, formerly known as Municipal Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures, has been renamed, “Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures 2013.” With a new name and focus for its report, “The EPA is thinking beyond garbage and recycling and is transitioning from a concentration on waste management to a spotlight on advancing sustainable materials as resources.”

David Biderman, SWANA’s executive director and CEO said, “The EPA’s annual report is an important snapshot of how Americans are generating, recycling, and disposing of waste.” He added, “We look forward to working more closely with EPA to achieve our shared objective of managing waste as a resource.”

The report confirmed that integrated waste management systems, including landfill and energy-from-waste (EFW) options, are critical components of the U.S. infrastructure. Building on this through the combined efforts of SWANA’s Technical Divisions, under the new strategic plan to develop specific programing and awareness opportunities in these areas, SWANA is perfectly aligned to support and help achieve responsible management of solid waste as a resource.

Biderman also noted that disposal facilities such as landfills are an important source of renewable energy.

SWANA is committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through an emphasis on education, advocacy, collaboration, and research. SWANA looks forward to working with the EPA, customers and other industry stakeholders to develop sustainable materials management systems that are available to all Americans.

The full report can be found here.