Solid Waste Association of North America
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For over 40 years, The Solid Waste Association of North America [1], (SWANA) has been the leading professional association in the solid waste management field. SWANA's mission is "to advance the practive of environmentally and exonomically sound management of municipal solid waste" SWANA serves over 7,700 members and thousands more industry professionals with technical conferences, certifications, publications and a large offering of technical training courses. Solid waste consists of everyday items that could be thrown away or recycled such as bottles, cans, newspapers, computers, furniture, food, and appliances.
SWANA has three aims:
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[edit] Educate
SWANA is committed to advancing the field, member’s careers, community, and lives. We train thousands in today's trends and tomorrow's emerging technologies. The foundation for our effort is rooted in eight technical divisions that are made up of professionals who want to network and learn from their colleagues and are keenly interested in shaping the future of their fields.
- Technical Divisions
- Collection & Transfer
- Communication, education & marketing
- Landfill gas
- Landfill management
- Planning & management
- Special waste management
- Waste reduction, recycling & composting
- Incineration
- Symposia: These specialty courses are designed to educate, train, and provide networking opportunities for all attendees.
- Certification: SWANA members can be certified in the following areas:
- Training: In addition to event training, SWANA offers classroom training, E-Courses, On-Site training, online courses, and home study courses which can help you to have a successful solid waste career.
[edit] Innovate
SWANA’s research, development and demonstration efforts are the spark that ignites the cutting-edge training, and educational programs that make today’s trends into tomorrow’s emerging technologies. At the forefront of this effort is SWANA’s Applied Research Foundation, a subscriber-based group that has redefined the concept of collective research. SWANA has an award programs recognize those whose contributions have stood out above all others. SWANA also initiated the Grant H. Flint International Scholarship Awards Program to provide monetary support for education of tomorrow’s leaders. Applied Research Foundation: This foundation supports SWANA by leveraging research dollars for issues addressing important solid waste concerns.
Awards: The select few who have excelled significantly are rewarded by SWANA.
- Excellence Award
- Professional Achievement Award
[edit] Communicate
SWANA’s main piece of our communication outreach is our Web site. Since September 11th, this site has become our first line of response in spreading news and information about our ever-changing world. In addition, SWANA has an advocacy program that represents the interests of the solid waste profession by being a proactive advocate of environmentally and economically sound solid waste legislation and regulations.
SWANA communicates through a number of media including:
- Chapters: SWANA offers forty-five local chapters in which attendees can participate in forums, training sessions, local legislation, and networking.
- Advocacy: SWANA is an advocacy association that identifies sound solid waste management policies while implementing strategies to advance these positions.
- Journal & Newsletters: SWANA members receive updates of today’s trends and tomorrow’s emerging technologies in the monthly journal MSW Management, in addition to a monthly newsletter: MSW Solutions.
[edit] Wastecon
SWANA hosts WASTECON which is the main conference in the solid waste field in North America. This is the only conference run by and for solid waste professionals in Northern America. The largest conference and exhibition in the global waste management industry is the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management conference held annually in Paignton, UK.
[edit] See also
- Chartered Institute of Wastes Management SWANA
- International Solid Waste Association ISWA
- Waste
- Waste management
