Environmentalists. Every Day. America's Solid Waste Industry

NSWMA’s Bruce Parker was interviewed by Zach Shtogren Big Think’s senior editor.  It is an interesting exchange about environmental issues related to the solid waste industry.

For recycling rates to increase, participation in every phase of the recycling loop (collection, sorting and processing, remanufacturing) must occur. Residents and businesses need to put all of their properly prepared recyclables out for collection. All of us need to buy products made with recycled content. Businesses need to manufacture more recycled-content products and become involved in local and state recycling organizations. Local governments need to improve the efficiency of collection programs, practice full cost accounting, and identify opportunities to increase recycling rates. EPA provides information on how to increase recycling rates.

On Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM EDT, Waste Management (NYSE: WMI) leaders are scheduled to commemorate Earth Day by ringing the opening bell and signaling the start of the trading day at the New York Stock Exchange. The opening bell is seen by 100 million viewers each day on television outlets including CNBC and Bloomberg. WM is a leading provider of comprehensive waste management services offering collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. WM also is a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy facilities in the United States. For more information, please visit the  WM or the NYSE websites.

The 2009 Republic Services Defensive Driver Training video won the “Platinum Best of Show” award in the Security/Safety category of the 2008 Aurora Film and Video competition. The film was sponsored by Republic Services with the goal of helping to build awareness of the safeguards and procedures and that can help professional Republic Service employees avoid accidents and injuries. The program’s focus is on the six most frequent and serious accident types for drivers of large vehicles and the skills and motivations a professional uses to avoid them. The content is driven via the passion and insights offered by the dozens of professional drivers and safety supervisors, and the rich and entertaining visuals that support the health and safety content.  The film was produced, written, directed and filmed by Rees Candee. Editing is by John Orchard.

The Aurora Awards is an international competition designed to recognize excellence in the film and video industries. It specifically targets products, programs and commercials that would not normally have the opportunity to compete on a national level, by focusing on non-national commercials, regional or special interest entertainment and corporate sponsored film and video. Entries have come from across the US, and abroad.