The Ohio Buckeye Chapter is an affiliate of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), the oldest, largest, and most well-respected professional organization in the field of solid waste management that promotes sustainable and economical solid waste management systems that include waste reduction, recycling, collection, transfer, compost operations, processing, landfilling, and energy recovery.
The Buckeye Chapter is dedicated to developing professionalism in the field by offering training, professional development and networking opportunities to its members. Our Chapter currently includes 175 solid waste management professionals working as facility operators, policy makers, solid waste district managers, suppliers, contractors, environmental engineers, consultants, and equipment vendors.
We encourage you to join and become involved in our chapter. It is through our members’ input that we will grow and prosper. Here’s how:
Visit the chapter web site www.swanaohio.org for information on chapter bylaws, events, job postings, certification trainings, chapter awards and more.
- Participate in chapter training opportunities and receive discounted rates. The Buckeye Chapter conducts at least one SWANA certification course in Ohio each year.
- Join the SWANA Ohio Buckeye Chapter Group on Linked in for discussions.
- Attend our annual meeting held in September. The meeting features a luncheon, our annual awards program and technical speakers. Look for email notices about the meeting.
- Network at regional solid waste management conferences, sponsored by the Buckeye Chapter, with subject matter experts that can provide insights to solid waste management issues in your local community.
- Nominate a colleague for a chapter award. These are presented at our annual meeting in September. Applications are posted on the chapter web site.
- Apply for a college scholarship (for children and grandchildren of SWANA members and for student members). Information is posted on the chapter web site.
- Stay current with State and Federal regulations and SWANA policy papers affecting the solid and hazardous waste industries.
- Consider serving on our Board of Directors. Board positions are two-year terms and vacancies are filled through an annual election held in September at the Annual meeting. Interested nominees should contact the Chapter president.
- Encourage young colleagues in your organization to join the Young Professionals of SWANA. Our chapter helps subsidize the membership.
HISTORY OF BUCKEYE SWANA
It was June 18, 1985 when at a conference entitled “Automated Collection and Collection Efficiency Conference” in Mansfield, Ohio, a few proud members of the Governmental Refuse Collection and Disposal Association (GRCDA was the name prior to becoming SWANA) began to discuss forming a chapter for the solid waste professionals of Ohio. These founding fathers composed of Jim Bridges, Jerry Springer, George Rowe, Wilbur Evans, and Frank Gerdnic were encouraged by former SWANA Executive Director, H. Lanier Hickman, to petition to organize. In September 1985, Bridges, Evans, and Springer met at the Ohio State University’s Student Union to prepare a strategy for organizing. On October 16, 1985, an ad hoc committee seeking a GRCDA Chapter for the State of Ohio met in a conference room at the U.S. EPA facility in Cincinnati to review the GRCDA Chapter Handbook and take steps to establish a Chapter. On August 14, 1986, GRCDA International President, Philip Richmond, and the International Board of Director approved the Affiliation Agreement and Ohio “Buckeye Chapter” was officially established.