SAFETY FIRST: OSHA, NWRA, AND SWANA REAFFIRM PARTNERSHIP TO PROTECT WASTE AND RECYCLING WORKERS

Through this three-year agreement, the organizations will collaborate on initiatives to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses by sharing resources, training materials, and best practices focused on the most pressing hazards in the industry. These include needlestick injuries, slips, trips, and falls, heat and cold stress, and other occupational health risks faced by solid waste and recycling workers. 

“We value the role of collaboration in keeping our workers safe,” stated SWANA CEO Amy Lestition Burke, MA, FASAE, CAE. “This Alliance provides the opportunity for SWANA and NWRA to work closely with OSHA on sharing and developing critical resources. Together, we are building a culture of safety that ensures every worker thrives and returns home each day.”  

“By signing this agreement, our organizations are demonstrating a continued commitment to making the waste and recycling industry safer,” said Michael E. Hoffman, president and CEO of NWRA. “This renewed Alliance allows us to work together with OSHA to deliver practical tools and guidance that protect the essential workers who keep our communities clean and safe.” 

The Alliance will place special emphasis on outreach to small- and medium-sized employers and will use data on injuries, illnesses, and hazard exposure to guide awareness campaigns and training efforts. The agreement also encourages cross-participation in events hosted by each organization to expand the reach of safety and health messaging. 

By renewing this partnership, OSHA, NWRA, and SWANA reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that safety remains a top priority for the waste and recycling workforce. 

ABOUT NWRA 
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage solid, industrial/hazardous, medical, and construction/demolition debris waste, and represent equipment manufacturers and distributors, and a variety of other professional service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit  www.wasterecycling.org. 

NWRA Contact 
Genevieve O’Sullivan 
National Waste & Recycling Association 
gosullivan@wasterecycling.org 
202-731-1812