As we enter the new year, SWANA is committed to getting MSW Solutions readers involved in the development of this newsletter, starting with what we hope will be a new section titled, "On Our Minds: Thoughts of SWANA Members." This month, SWANA President Carl Newby shares his thoughts about the economy and the future of solid waste management.
Today I am pondering what the impact that the drop in the recycling commodity markets will mean to me and my jurisdiction and how long it will last. I am pondering if I have a safe operation and if our training up to date. I am pondering where the price of fuel will be next year and whether I should continue to pay for biodiesel. I am wondering how waste-to-energy will fare with the new Obama administration.
What scares me is that my local government may be forced to eliminate training and memberships in professional groups in response to the current national economic crisis. The information that I use to contemplate the questions I am faced with daily as a solid waste professional comes in very large part from my SWANA training and network. I know I will have good answers for the questions facing my jurisdiction based on my experiences and what I have learned through SWANA. I know I will continue to need the knowledge base that I use daily that comes in large part from SWANA participation.
As I prepare my budget this year, I am working to keep our training and membership dollars. I know my jurisdiction must ask the question about the value of training when funds are so tight. I will answer that it is critical that we keep learning and growing. I will answer that this is an investment in having the best staff we can to handle tight times. I will answer that, to ensure the best environmental and economic solid waste management for us, we must learn from others.
Carl Newby
2009 SWANA President
Interested in submitting an MSW Solutions guest editorial or becoming a SWANA blogger? Email marketing@swana.org with your opinions and thoughts or suggested articles. Become more than just a reader of MSW Solutions; become a contributor!
Monday, January 12, 2009
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