The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 (EPA) rebranding of its annual Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) report released on June 17, 2015. The EPA鈥檚 report, formerly known as Municipal Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures, has been renamed, 鈥�Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures 2013.鈥� With a new name and focus for its report, 鈥淭he EPA is thinking beyond garbage and recycling and is transitioning from a concentration on waste management to a spotlight on advancing sustainable materials as resources.鈥� David Biderman, SWANA鈥檚 executive director and CEO said, 鈥淭he EPA鈥檚 annual report is an important snapshot of how Americans are generating, recycling, and disposing of waste.鈥� He added, 鈥淲e look forward to working more closely with EPA to achieve our shared objective of managing waste as a resource.鈥�
The report confirmed that integrated waste management systems, including landfill and energy-from-waste (EFW) options, are critical components of the U.S. infrastructure. Building on this through the combined efforts of SWANA鈥檚 Technical Divisions, under the new strategic plan to develop specific programing and awareness opportunities in these areas, SWANA is perfectly aligned to support and help achieve responsible management of solid waste as a resource.Biderman also noted that disposal facilities such as landfills are an important source of renewable energy. SWANA is committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through an emphasis on education, advocacy, collaboration, and research. SWANA looks forward to working with the EPA, customers and other industry stakeholders to develop sustainable materials management systems that are available to all Americans.
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