About the Authors

Philip O’Leary’s area of professional interest is solid waste management, hazardous waste control, groundwater quality protection and related environmental topics. His landfill design seminar has been attended by 1,000s of people who now are responsible for developing, permitting and operating landfills throughout the United States and Canada. Most recently, O’Leary has been working to improve solid waste management practices in Hungary, Poland, Finland, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel and Spain.

Patrick Walsh directs the University’s community, resource development extension programs across Wisconsin. He is an engineer and attorney who has broad experience in solid waste management engineering, regulation and enforcement. Prior to joining the University, Walsh worked as a renewable energy researcher and assistant attorney general in Wisconsin. In 1991, the authors founded of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.