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 landfilling, 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.

This November, the committee will be sponsoring a Click, Listen & Learn program entitled “Organics Recycling: Going Beyond Yard Waste.” Based on national statistics, organics comprises almost 35% of what is discarded, most of which can be composted. Many of our colleagues from Canada are facing the challenges of eliminating organics from the waste stream, and a number of Canadian communities have put infrastructure in place to address organic waste recycling. In the United States, the number of communities initiating organic waste composting has more than doubled in a single year. The committee is also working on a new publication on organic waste composting that will assist those communities that want to be in the forefront of being sustainable, and have a zero waste initiative.

With our roots firmly grounded…….


Mark

• Committee Roster
• PowerPoint Presentation addressing role of the committee [PPT]
• Business Plan [PDF]
• Meeting Summaries
• Newsletters

Participate in discussions regarding this and other topics through:	Additional Resources:
	Resource Center APWA Position Statements