Why SWANA?
Message from John Skinner, SWANA Executive Director
Today's solid waste marketplace presents a very complex and
changing landscape that demands a tremendous need for cutting-edge
information and methods on how to employ the best technologies
and management practices.
The fulfillment of this critical need for today's solid waste
professional has been a long-standing hallmark of SWANA, provided
through its highly rated training and certification programs
developed by the Association's eight Technical Divisions.
Beyond the provision of quality of information, SWANA members
are universally drawn together by the guiding principle that
"local governments are responsible for solid waste management
within their jurisdictions, but not necessarily the ownership
of operation of solid waste management systems."
While local governments can contract out some or all of their
solid waste operations, they can never contract out their accountability
to the public. Solid waste management is first and foremost
strongly grounded in the need to protect public health, safeguard
the environment and conserve and recover material and energy
resources. It is not a commodity like soap detergent or cable
television that can be left to the whims of short term profit
and loss decisions. Instead, solid waste management decisions
must reflect community values and are therefore an essential
prerogative of local government.
This is not contrary to private sector provision of services,
but instead establishes the foundation for responsible partnerships
between local governments and private service providers. Through
its extensive services and aggressive advocacy efforts for effective
industry policy and representation, SWANA continues to be the
premier educational association for solid waste professionals
in both the public and private sectors to identify and align
with.
John A. Skinner
