About Us

We are dedicated to advancing the practice of economical and environmentally sound solid waste management in the State of Ohio.

The objectives of the chapter are:

  • To develop increased professionalism in the field of solid waste management;

  • To develop environmentally sound, economically competitive, and effective integrated municipal solid waste management systems, including reduction, recycling, collection, transfer, processing, landfilling and waste-to-energy conversion of solid wastes;

  • To foster a cooperative atmosphere among municipal solid waste management professionals through the dissemination of information, continuing education and professional development and research programs to best serve the public interest.

History

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, Steve Viny, Jerry Springer, 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’s approved the Affiliation Agreement and the Ohio “Buckeye Chapter” was officially established.

During the past year, with your partnership, SWANA has served you and the industry:

  • Paving the way for smoother operations across facility types through the submission of over 15 sets of comments or statements on proposed legislation or regulations, including the EPA National Strategy to Reduce Food Loss and Waste and Recycle Organics, regulations on PFAS, Canada’s Landfill Methane regulations, and Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act.  
  • Providing up-to-date education on a key industry issue through a new training course: Essential Leachate PFAS Treatment and Management.  
  • Bringing together a Lithium Ion Battery Working Group that meets regularly to discuss challenges the industry is facing with these products.  
  • Providing valuable connections and information sharing for over 1,300 industry professionals at WASTECON® which offered over 60 educational sessions, recognized 11 individuals or companies with awards, and facilitated conversations with over 135 sponsors and exhibitors,  
  • Unveiled the new SWANA conference, RCon™, taking place November 12 – 15, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, which will be a reinvented approach to industry needs in a professional conference.  

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.