Environmentalists. Every Day. America's Solid Waste Industry

McNeilus Companies, Inc., was excited to host a Driver of the Year Award ceremony for Kenneth Aldrich of Republic Services, Inc., at McNeilus’ corporate headquarters in Dodge Center, Minn. on September 24, 2010. See photos from event at Environmental Industry Associations Facebook fanpage. Learn more about this event here.

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) recently submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on how greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from biogenic sources should be treated under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule (generally referred to as the “Tailoring Rule”).  NSWMA argued that the GHG produced from biomass should not be regulated in the same manner as anthropogenic GHG (i.e., fossil fuel use) under the Tailoring Rule. Read full release here.

Inc. Magazine has named WASTEC member Otto Environmental Systems North America Inc., a waste collection container maker, and NSWMA member SweeDee, Louisiana’s largest independent solid waste collection company, to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the United States. Otto is a Charlotte, N.C.-based firm and was ranked 3,297 overall on the Inc. 5000 list and No. 102 among the manufacturing sector of the list. SweeDee is a Houma, Louisianna-based firm and was ranked 3,480 overall on the Inc. 5000 list and No. 48 among the environmental services sector of the list.

While the public sector has the general regulatory and oversight responsibility for solid waste management, both private waste companies and local governments collect trash and recyclables and operate disposal facilities. The private sector collects a majority of commercial and industrial waste, about half of residential waste and a majority of residential recyclables and compost. NSWMA supports privatization, believing the private sector can provide solid waste services in the most efficient, low cost and environmentally protective manner. For more information about this, see, “Competition in Owning and Operating Solid Waste Systems: Privatization Works Best,” NSWMA’s Research Bulletin on privatization and “Competitive Neutrality in Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services,” our Research Bulletin on competitive neutrality.

College students have a chance to win up to $3,000 in scholarships by filming or creating animation and uploading short video clips to YouTube that demonstrate the everyday, practical ways that garbage men and women help keep communities healthy and clean, protect the environment and conserve resources in their communities. The contest, which opens on September 9, 2010, is sponsored by NSWMA. Students are asked to upload video or animated clips of five minutes or shorter. In addition to information about eligibility, contest rules and directions for uploading videos, the contest webpage lists a number of possible themes, one or more of which must be incorporated into the videos.

Planning for WasteExpo 2011? Companies that exhibit at WasteExpo (whether NSWMA or WASTEC members) are eligible to participate in the Dues Contribution Program and receive savings on exhibit space AS WELL AS having a portion or all of their NSWMA or WASTEC dues paid by Penton Media. Here’s a link to a chart outlining the potential booth savings and the dues contribution that is possible through the program.

The application for the 2011 EIA Driver of the Year Award is now available…This program recognizes and honors waste industry drivers committed to safety, quality and service. Nominations are due by December 3. For more information, comments or questions about the program, contact chutcherson@nswma.org.

On September 25, 2010, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country.  The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.

Congrats to Choice Environmental Services! The Clean Vehicle Education Foundation and Natural Gas Vehicles for America recently announced that Choice has been selected to receive the prestigious 2010 NGV Achievement Award, an honor recognizing outstanding contributions to the advancement of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. Choice is being honored for their commitment to natural gas vehicles, and for being the first refuse fleet in Florida to use natural gas vehicles. (Photo: NGVAmerica President Rich Kolodziej honors Choice Environmental Services Chairman and CEO Glen Miller with 2010 National NGV Achievement Award.)

Now available: recordings from WASTEC webinar about OSHA & NFPA Requirements for Arc Flash Safety (recorded on August 31). Here’s link to QuickTime movie, but MP3, MP4, AVI and PPT files also are available in WASTEC and NSWMA members-only pages on website.