Volume 17 | April 2023

SWANA Old Dominion News

President's Message

As we roll through the middle of April, I hope everyone has had a chance to enjoy some of the warmer weather! We have a few deadlines fast approaching so please take note of the information in the newsletter regarding Scholarships (May 1), Safety Awards (May 26), and SWANA Awards (June 30).

The Chapter Officers and Directors continue to work hard so we can bring you various training events and tours throughout the year. Please make sure to mark your calendars for the SWANA Region 6 conference in Greenville, SC this August.

As we have stated before, most of the chapter work is handled through our various committees. Committees are a great way to be involved in the local chapter and a great way to give back to our industry. If anyone is interested in joining a committee, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

I hope each of you have a wonderful, safe spring and I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Thanks,

Jon Clary

SWANA Old Dominion Chapter President

Scholarships

Deadline to apply is May 1

Chapter scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors among children and grandchildren of chapter members. Qualifying college and graduate student awards are also available.

More Information on SWANA Old Dominion Scholarships

Nominate Your Program for a SWANA Award

Deadline to apply is June 30

The SWANA Old Dominion Awards recognize individuals and programs that enhance the management of solid waste in Virginia and/or increase public understanding of solid waste management challenges and success stories in three categories.

Professional Achievement

Program Achievement

Student Paper Award

More Information on SWANA Old Dominion Awards

Safety Awards

Accepting submissions until May 26

Consider nominating your organization for a SWANA Safety Award. Categories include Biggest Safety Improvements, Best Safety Innovations, and Best Safety Training Programs and Workplace Wellness Programs.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 29 with the awards ceremony taking place in September at WASTECON® 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Your organization has done a great job protecting workers and the public. Now get recognized for your accomplishments by the largest member-based solid waste association in the world.

Safety Awards

Save the Date

Region 6 Conference

The Old Dominion chapter will have a combined conference with the Region 6 states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky).

August 29 – September 1, 2023

Greenville, SC

Upcoming Training Events

Visit the Training Page

Technical Tours

Freestate Farms Balls Ford Road Compost Facility and Republic Services Manassas Recycling Center

April 26 at 10:00 am

More Details and Registration: SWANA Old Dominion Chapter - Training (swanava.org)

Webinars

SWANA Webinars

The Old Dominion Chapter has pre-paid for our members to view SWANA National webinars.

Register for webinars online at SWANA.org. Enter the Chapter’s Debit Card Code at the time of registration. Code: VIRGINIA

Recorded Chapter Webinars

Check out the recorded SWANA Old Dominion webinars on our Past Trainings page. After viewing a webinar, email [email protected] to request a CEU.

EPA Offers Grants for Environmental Justice Projects

Apply by April 14th for funding of up to $1 million

EPA's EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program provides funding for eligible applicants for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community. The EJCPS Program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities.

Environmental Justice Grants, Funding and Technical Assistance | US EPA

Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

On March 14, 2023, EPA announced the proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX Chemicals), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).

More information on EPA's announcement on PFAS

Welcome New Members

Tavon Hunter, (Lanham, MD)

Xiaojue Chen (Greenbelt, MD)

Jose’ Ibarra, City of Ontario (Arlington, VA)

Eileen Johnson, Whiteford,Tayor & Preston (Falls Church, VA)

Jennifer Wheeler, Virginia Peninsula Public Svc. Authority (Williamsburg, VA)

David Holland, Chesterfield County (Chesterfield, VA)

Ben Laurent, Heartland Water Technology (Chesapeake, VA)

John Dottellis, WM (Chesapeake, VA)

Johnathan Gledhill, Policy Navigation Group (Annandale, VA)

Brian Sheffer, Campbell County (Rustburg, VA)

INCREASE IN 2022 WORKER FATALITIES

SWANA reported an increase in worker fatalities in 2022 in the United States and Canada after a dramatic drop in 2021. For 2022, 46 solid waste industry worker fatalities were recorded by SWANA compared to 28 the year before.

“SWANA is disappointed by the nearly 65 percent increase in worker fatalities experienced in the industry last year,” stated David Biderman, SWANA Executive Director & CEO. “The 2022 data is a reminder that we need to make sure that safety is a core value across all lines of business, in collection, post-collection, and maintenance, and at small and large companies and agencies in both the public and private sectors,” Biderman added.

See the full report

2023 - 2024 Directors

Visit the website to meet our full Board of Directors and Officers.