Solid Waste Management

Welcome to the APWA Solid Waste Management Technical Committee website.

The Solid Waste Management Committee consists of APWA members in the field of solid waste management. Committee members represent a diverse background and come from different geographical areas of the country, giving the committee a broad overview of the challenges facing the solid waste industry. The committee is committed in assisting APWA members with expertise in helping them keep their communities clean, safe and healthy. The committee also provides expertise in drafting position papers for the APWA Board of Directors that are used to educate local, state, and national elected officials.

One of the major focuses of public works officials in the upcoming years is that of making our communities sustainable. Waste management is at the forefront of environmental sustainability. What we as a society discard says much about how sustainable we are. And much of what we throw away is, in fact, recyclable. The management of solid waste focus in communities is shifting from incinerating and land filling, to that of become a zero waste society. Recycling efforts are now going beyond that of the traditional items of glass, aluminum, and newspaper, to that of corrugated cardboard, yard and green waste, and even food waste. While zero waste is a lofty goal, it is one that is achievable. But it will take significant commitment and education to get there. And that will be one of the major issues the committee will be addressing in the upcoming year.

The committees presently working on a Click, Listen & Learn program entitled “Improving Your Recycling Program”.  Today’s communities are facing state mandates to increase their recycled materials.  This session will look at three areas where communities can improve their recycling programs; EDUATION across multi-ethnic neighborhoods, PARTNERING with private sector programs such as RecycleBank, and FOCUSING on commercial accounts.  In many of our communities, we are facing challenges of growing multi-ethnic neighborhoods, where the cultures are different and recycling is not a priority.  Partnering with numerous private sector companies can divert thousands of tons of recyclable materials for the waste street.  Most of the focus on recycling has been on residential waste, however, commercial accounts generate hundreds of thousands of tons of recycling materials and with the push to be Sustainable, and many companies are looking at how they can better their “green status”.  

The committee is also working on various publications; including a new book on organic waste composting that will assist those communities that want to be in the forefront of being sustainable, and whom have a zero waste initiative.   The April 2012 issue of the APWA Reporter will also be filled with articles addressing many topics and problems facing today’s communities.

With our roots firmly grounded…….