Environmentalists. Every Day. America's Solid Waste Industry

NSWMA’s General Counsel and Safety Director, David Biderman was interviewed for podcast by the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence. In this podcast, he describes the successes and challenges related to safety in the solid waste field. Listen to the podcast now.

The New York City Chapter of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) recently submitted comments to the New York City Council’s Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Committee regarding a proposed food waste composting bill.  The bill calls for a study and a pilot project for compostable waste; authorizes the New York City Business Integrity Commission’s (BIC) to alter its rate cap; and allows city officials to reduce the tip fee for source separated compostable waste.

The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) has filed comments with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regarding possible changes in hours of service rules. In its comments, NSWMA strongly urged FMCSA to keep the “100-air mile” reporting exception and the 34-hour reset provision that are a part of current federal hours of service regulations. Learn more here.

In its September 28 issue, Newsweek ranked the Greenest Big Companies in America. For more than a year, the magazine worked with leading environmental researchers KLD Research & Analytics, Trucost, and CorporateRegister.com to rank the 500 largest U.S. companies based on the actual environmental performance, policies and reputation.  A number of EIA members companies are on this list: Caterpillar was ranked 73. Cummins was ranked 91. Waste Management was ranked 109. Deere was ranked 141. PPG Industries was ranked 335. And Navistar International was ranked 424.

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released fatality data for 2008, and there was an increase in solid waste collection employee deaths in 2008 compared to 2007.   Truck rollovers, backing and being struck by a car were the most common causes of these fatal accidents.  The majority of those killed worked for small haulers and local governments.  NSWMA believes that even one workplace fatality per year is one too many, and will continue its effort to provide safety information to solid waste companies and local governments that helps them reduce their accidents and injuries.

The U.S. DOT is convening a Distracted Driving Summit in D.C. on Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, 2009.  This is an important meeting from which legislation may result, among other safety initiatives. An industry representative has been invited to participate on the panel for the event.

In a related matter, Senator Schumer introduced a bill in July that would require states to bar the sending of text or email messages while driving a car or truck, or risk losing federal highway funds. NSWMA has announced its support for that legislation.

The solid waste industry had a terrific safety record in February, with not a single worker fatality anywhere in the United States.  This is the first fatality-free month since NSWMA started tracking the data.  Unfortunately, two workers died on the job this week.  A 61-year-old driver in Oregon was found crushed inside the body of his truck.  And a 61-year-old worker for the New York City Department of Sanitation died of a heart attack while on the route.  Another worker was seriously injured when he was struck by a 70-year-old motorist in upstate New York.  Employers and employees are reminded to emphasize safe operations at all time.  NSWMA will be discussing these events at the NIOSH Services Sector Council meeting on March 17-18.

On the website of the West Palm Beach Public Works Dept., visitors will find a new video where employees rap about the services that they provide.

Election Day is over. It’s time to discard and recycle the campaign signs. All over the United States, thousands of solid waste and recycling collection trucks and workers are picking up your trash and recyclables. Red state, blue state, undecided state. It doesn’t matter. The hard working men and women in the solid waste and recycling workers do their job in a professional and environmental correct way, every day, no matter who you (or they) voted for. And tomorrow, and the next day, they will do it all over again.

New York City’s Business Integrity Commission (BIC) will vote on Friday, November 7 on a proposed 30 percent increase to the maximum rates that solid waste companies are allowed to charge commercial customers in the City. The City’s rate cap has not been changed since 1997. The BIC held a public hearing in October on its proposal; NSWMA and 10 member companies testified that the proposed increase is insufficient, as labor, disposal, fuel and other costs have gone up by much more than 30 percent since 1997. No one testified in opposition to the proposed increase. NSWMA has been lobbying City officials for rate cap reform for several years, and views the proposed 30 percent adjustment as an important step towards eventual rate deregulation.