SWANA & CRRA Launch Joint Zero Waste Certification Course

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) announce the launch of a new Zero Waste Principles & Practices certification course, developed by the two organizations along with Kessler Consulting (KCI) over the past two years.

This course will promote the integration of zero waste principles into existing management systems, practices, and policies, in order to move local systems toward developing and achieving community-specific zero waste goals.

“The partnership between SWANA and CRRA reflects our commitment to managing resources and understanding that there are better ways to address resource management than disposal,” SWANA Deputy Executive Director Sara Bixby said in a statement. “Our current recycling, composting, and education programs must be part of our future zero waste systems; the challenge is to rethink existing programs in the context of zero waste and to add elements that move us further toward these goals.”

The Zero Waste Principles & Practices certification course will benefit municipal recycling and solid waste professionals, private and public sector policy makers, and sustainability advocates who are looking to write a zero waste plan or learn more about components to incorporate in their current program.

“Early on, CRRA's Board recognized the importance of bringing a structured educational program to the non-profit, public, and private sector engaged in developing and bringing zero waste plans to reality,” CRRA President Rob Hilton said in a statement. “CRRA's early certification program was successful in training hundreds of professionals, many of whom are now in zero waste careers. This partnership with SWANA allows us to reach and learn from thousands of our colleagues and industry partners across North America, and it is my sincere hope that this sharing and learning evolves the concepts of zero waste from a movement to an established industry."

The Zero Waste Principles & Practices certification course contains 10 modules covering areas of public policy, programs, technology, and measurement, with lessons that include collection options, managing organics, contracts, and financing.

“The collaborative effort among CRRA, SWANA and the KCI project team reflects a wide array of interests, expertise and passion for this topic and that carries through in the materials,” Mitch Kessler, President of Kessler Consulting, said in a statement.

The course will premiere at CRRA’s 41st Annual Conference and Tradeshow in San Diego, California from August 16-23, 2017, and is available as part of SWANA’s industry-renowned Certification Program through Training@Work, Training@HQ, and Chapter Partnering programs.