Environmentalists. Every Day. America's Solid Waste Industry

The Illinois Chapter of NSWMA developed a factsheet that NSWMA members may share with their customers. The factsheet explains the new Illinois law (Illinois Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act) that goes into effect on January 1, 2012. Download the factsheet here.

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA), certain members and non-members filed suit against the City of Dallas today in U.S. District Court to stop implementation of flow control. Read release providing details about filing here.

NSWMA’s Connecticut Chapter launched new website (www.CTrecyclingandtrashfacts.com) today, containing lots of information about new waste and recycling rules and reporting requirements in the state. Visit the new site here.

On October 4, the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) released the application for its 2012 Driver of the Year Awards (DOY). The prestigious DOY Awards honor those drivers who have upheld the field of solid waste management as an honorable occupation and who have conducted themselves and operated their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. The nomination deadline is Friday, December 2, 2011. See full press release here. Download application here.

Keep America Beautiful is launching its Recycle Bowl Competition, the first annual, nationwide, K-12 school recycling competition. You’re invited to a 30-minute webinar, where you’ll learn about the competition and how it can help your company increase recycling rates in the communities that you serve and help children learn about the importance of recycling. NSWMA members are invited to participate in this no-cost webinar session to learn about this program. A question and answer session will follow a brief presentation. Get more info here.

In September 2011, NSWMA sold the 2000th in its “Be Safe, Be Proud” safety video series, marking a milestone in efforts to reduce workplace accidents and injuries for solid waste services industry employees. Read the full release here.

NSWMA in early September filed an amicus brief in the Court of Appeal for the State of California supporting Potrero Hills Landfill and Solano County in their legal battle over Solano County’s Measure E. Several organizations, including the Sierra Club, filed lawsuits seeking enforcement of Measure E in 2009 as part of their strategy to block the expansion of the Potrero Hills Landfill. Believing the Measure is unconstitutional, Solano County has not enforced the measure for at least 19 years. This continues NSWMA’s long history of fighting similar laws. For decades, NSWMA has opposed and successfully challenged such laws in counties and localities throughout the country. Read full release here.

The United States District Court in Syracuse, New York struck down Oswego County’s Flow Control Law earlier this week as unconstitutionally vague.  This decision means a transfer station in the county will no longer be subject to the county’s waste disposal monopoly, and will help a small private company stay in business. Read the full release here.

NSWMA partnered  with the NIOSH, a component of the CDC and HHS, to develop a driver safety flyer and bill stuffer. The flyer can be shared with the customers of solid waste industry companies and others. It is intended to inform people about the inherent dangers that garbage collectors (drivers and helpers) face from other drivers when collecting trash and recyclables on American streets. The bill stuffer is designed to allow solid waste companies to personalize it with a picture of one of their company’s trucks. The flyer is a part of NSWMA’s Slow Down to Get Around (SDTGA) program.

SDTGA is a national safety campaign that reminds motorists to drive more carefully near solid waste collection vehicles. Motorists often are distracted while driving and frequently crash into collection employees or vehicles—sometimes with fatal consequences. In fact, dozens of solid waste employees were injured by careless drivers during the last year, and six of these workers were killed in such incidents. See a copy of the new SDTGA flyer here.  For more information about SDTGA, to request copies of SDTGA materials and to learn how all drivers can help keep garbage collectors safe on their routes, visit environmentalistseveryday.org/safety.

The Chairman’s Council is an excellent and enjoyable way to get to know other independent haulers, to learn about their companies, to discuss mutual interests and concerns and to exchange interesting “trash” stories. These tours are informative, thought-provoking and provide an informal setting where you can make new friends in the industry. Register today here.