SWANA Old Dominion Chapter Newsletter- Summer 2025

Volume 24 | July 2025

SWANA Old Dominion News

President's Message

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and doing what they can to stay cool! The Region 6 conference is coming up in Chattanooga from September 9-12. This conference will include the Kentucky, North Carolina, South Caolina, Tennessee and Virginia chapters. Although it is a long distance for many of us to travel it will be a great opportunity to interact with regional colleagues and get updates on the solid waste industry in our region.

Additionally, we are in the planning stages for a technical tour in the Fall and we will return to the Viriginia Beach oceanfront in April 2026 for our joint conference with the Virginia Recycling Association.

My wife and I vacationed in Slovenia and Croatia earlier this year and I found myself observing their solid waste infrastructure. There is a clear focus on separating MSW from recycling and food waste resulting in lots of color-coded receptacles. One challenge is Europe is collecting waste through centuries-old, narrow, cobblestone streets with small-sized collection vehicles. Many of the challenges in the solid waste industry are similar around the globe, but it is interesting to see some of the unique aspects that do vary from country to country.

Enjoy the summer and stay safe,

Michael D. Lawless, CPG, PG

SWANA Old Dominion President

Region 6 Conference

September 9-12th, 2025

Chattanooga Convention Center

Registration is open

The Old Dominion Chapter has scholarships for 2 Young Professionals to attend the Region 6 Conference.

Region 6 Information

YP Scholarships to Attend Region 6

Application Deadline: August 1, 2025

The Board of the SWANA Virginia Old Dominion Chapter would like to sponsor two Young Professionals to attend the 2025 SWANA Region 6 Conference.

☑ Applicant Requirements: 35 or younger, current employment in the solid waste industry, and current SWANA Old Dominion membership.

🏆Scholarship: Each recipient will receive free registration for the full conference; along with $550 towards travel and lodging.

Scholarship Application

Regulatory Training

Thursday October 16

8:30 am - 3:30 pm

The Place at Innsbrook

4036 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060

This session will provide 6 continuing professional education credits that may be used for the Class I and II Solid Waste Management Facility Operators License or for renewal of the Professional Engineers license.

SWANA Website Has New Capabilities

SWANA upgraded its technology to bring you a more user-friendly experience. You’ll now enjoy an easier way to:

Register for RCon™ and other SWANA events.
Join SWANA or renew your membership.
Access educational offerings – including trainings, research reports, and webinars.
Renew your SWANA Certifications.
Update your profile

For more information about swana.org and to update your personal profile, click here.

Training and Technical Committee

The training and technical committees are combining to bring you a schedule of education sessions and tours.

We are soliciting additional committee members to serve.

Responsibilities would be participating in occasional virtual meetings to coordinate on technical issues and trainings to support the SWANA Virginia Chapter Board.

If you are interested or would like more information, please reach out to Ryan Duckett at Ryan.Duckett@geosyntec.com or (804) 486-1907.

Safety Ambassador

The Old Dominion Chapter has an open position for Safety Ambassador. The Ambassador is a local resource for SWANA's Safety Matters Program to reduce accidents and injuries and move the waste collection industry off of the federal government’s list of 10 most dangerous jobs. Duties include planning the annual Health and Safety Training, attending safety meetings at SWANA National and the Old Dominion board meetings to provide a safety report and, utilizing the mail list and website to quickly provide information to the membership on safety topics.

Email info@swanava.org with a letter of interest if you would like to be considered for the Safety Ambassador position.

Refuse Truck Day Social

In partnership with Virginia Clean Cities and Atlantic Heavy Duty, InCharge Energy is excited to host a complimentary open house that’s focused on municipalities and private companies handling refuse management.

What: the Electric Refuse Truck Preview + Any-Brand EV Charger Service/ Maintenance Insights Open House

When: July 24^thfrom 12:30-4:30pm (arrive anytime)

Where: InCharge Energy Richmond, VA Sales & Service Office

Don’t miss your chance to

· get up close with the McNeilus Volterra™ electric refuse truck and other EVs

· discover the advantages of electric fleet vehicles

· explore how easy it is to operate and maintain EV chargers with InService™ and InControl™ – our purpose-built charger management and maintenance solutions purpose-built to give you operational confidence and peace of mind.

RSVP today: https://vacleancities.org/event/electric-work-truck-showcase/

AI Robotics and Recycling

There’s an old English saying: Where there’s muck, there’s brass. Garbage isn’t sexy, but it can be lucrative, if handled correctly—especially when it comes to retrieving and reusing recyclable materials.

The problem is that developed countries, especially the U.S., have historically been dismal at doing that. The average American produces nearly five pounds of waste every day, Environmental Protection Agency data shows. And comparatively little of that gets recycled: around 43% of aluminum cans, 31% of glass, and just 5% of plastics.

Those numbers have remained relatively stagnant over the past decade or more, and they were the ones that Matanya Horowitz set out to change. Today, Horowitz’s startup, AMP, based in Louisville, Colo., has developed a technology that could move the needle—by using AI to pluck recyclables out of society’s vast tide of garbage far more quickly and efficiently.

Welcome New Members

Samuel Calkins, Loudoun County

Scott Keebaugh, Town of Herndon

Dakota Dalton, Town of Herndon

David Garrett, TRC

Scott Keebaugh, Town of Herndon

Anthony Parker , GFL Environmental

Miracle Parker, City of Norfolk (VA)

Chang Soh, George Mason University

Jay Walton, Monster Organics