Thomas Metzger

Here are some updates about some noteworthy activities of the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA).

President’s Listening Tour

EIA welcomed new president and CEO Sharon Kneiss June 1, and she began her tenure with an ambitious schedule of 100 days of travel throughout the country to meet members and learn more about the industry. She is developing an itinerary that represents the full breadth of NSWMA and WASTEC membership, includes both big and small companies, is geographically diverse and includes some former and prospective members. She already has visited a number of member headquarters and waste management facilities.

In a letter to all NSWMA and WASTEC members, Kneiss stated, “I look forward to continuing the great legacy of my predecessors, while bringing a fresh perspective that should allow us to improve upon that history of success and take EIA to the next level. To facilitate this process, I want to hear directly from NSMWA and WASTEC members what they value most about their membership and where we can do better. We will use this information as input for a strategic planning process that the EIA board of trustees has directed us to undertake later this year.” Kneiss is blogging about her visits, giving members the opportunity to get to know her a little better, follow her travels and comment along the way. You can follow Kneiss’s blog on waste360.com or at http://blog.environmentalistseveryday.org.

Chapter Events

NSWMA’s many state chapters are hosting a busy calendar of meetings, fundraising golf tournaments and other social activities. These events are great opportunities for NSWMA and WASTEC members to meet and network with their peers and potential clients, raise important resources for their chapter activities and influence the advocacy agendas that the chapters will pursue in coming months. Learn more about what your local chapter is up to by viewing the EIA calendar of upcoming events at www.environmentalistseveryday.org/calendar.

EIA Executive Roundtable

Planning is well under way for the Executive Roundtable (ERT), EIA’s Fall Annual Meeting.  The 2012 ERT is scheduled to take place in Laguna Niguel, Calif., from Oct. 15-17.

Preparations for Expo 2013 Sessions

EIA and Penton Media are soliciting proposals for sessions for WasteExpo 2013, North America’s largest solid waste and recycling tradeshow, to be held in New Orleans from May 20-23. Proposals are due on or before Aug. 17, 2012. Alice Jacobsohn, EIA’s education director, stated, “We want presentation ideas about innovative systems, dynamic new processes, new business management and development approaches, revolutionary uses of technology, technological improvements in the field, recycling, waste minimization, environmental stewardship, employment and community relations.” Submissions will be reviewed for innovation, relevance and timeliness. Interested parties should submit a description of their idea to Jacobsohn at [email protected].

Expo Fun Run

EIA’s Future Industry Leaders Alliance (FILA) currently is exploring the idea of sponsoring a 5K race or fun run/walk for WasteExpo attendees next year in New Orleans. FILA is distributing a survey to gauge interest among WasteExpo attendees about participating in such an event. Are you a runner or walker? Please take this survey no later than Friday, July at: www.environmentalistseveryday.org/survey.

EIA is the trade association that represents the private sector solid waste and recycling services industry through its two sub-associations, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC).

For more information about these or other EIA/NSWMA/WASTEC activities, visit www.environmentalistseveryday.org or contact Communications Director Thom Metzger at [email protected].