Florida Governor Salutes Waste Industry for Environmental Achievements

Declares “Champions of the Environment Day”

Photo: (Left to Right, NSWMA’s Florida Chapter Chairman George Geletko of Waste Management, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, NSMWA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker, and NSWMA member Keyna Cory of Public Affairs Consultants)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2010
Contact: Thom Metzger, 202-506-0511

Tallahassee, FL – A proclamation by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist presented this week to Florida’s solid waste companies recognizes the men and women who work in the industry for their numerous achievements in helping to protect the environment, community health and public safety.

The proclamation, presented by Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp to the Florida Chapter of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) during an NSWMA meeting with key state leaders about legislative issues important to the industry, also applauds the industry’s commitment to technological innovation.

Achievements cited include boosting recycling rates, turning to clean fuels for its fleet of trucks and developing landfill-gas-to-energy projects, which turns landfill byproducts into a clean source of renewable fuel.  Such projects currently provide light and heat to more than a million Americans in 46 states, including Florida.  The proclamation declared January 11, 2010 “Champions of the Environment Day.”

While presenting the proclamation to NSWMA’s Florida Chapter Chairman George Geletko of Waste Management, Lt. Gov. Kottkamp stated, “The waste industry is vital to our state, as it manages the collection, disposal, and recycling efforts that help keep our communities clean, healthy and safe. It is commendable that the industry is conserving energy by investing in alternative fuel vehicles and using methane-gas from landfills to produce energy.Finally, it is exciting to see how committed the waste industry is to its employees and customers with major safety programs.”

Full text of the proclamation follows:

Whereas, the solid waste industry – the nation’s leading recycler – collects and processes 63 millions of tons of recyclables and 22 million tons of yard and food waste for composting, educates consumers on the benefits of recycling and is developing new technologies and programs to improve the efficiency of recycling and reducing waste volumes; and

Whereas, the solid waste industry is recovering landfill gas from garbage to produce enough energy to light and heat nearly 1.6 million homes each year, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the high cost of energy and America’s dependence on foreign oil; and

Whereas, the solid waste industry’s conversion of landfill gas into clean, renewable energy has annual greenhouse gas reduction benefits equivalent to removing the emissions of nearly 19 million vehicles or more than 400,000 railcars of coal; and

Whereas, the industry is conserving energy by investing in alternative fuel and hybrid garbage and recycling trucks; and

Whereas, refuse trucks have become the most rapidly growing natural gas vehicle sector in the nation; and

Whereas, the solid waste industry and community partnerships throughout the country have created beneficial uses of closed landfills for commercial, recreational and other community benefits; and

Whereas, drivers and helpers on waste collection and recycling vehicles, provide additional “eyes and ears” in the community for neighborhood watch efforts, know and keep watch over the neighborhoods, homes, and businesses that they serve, preventing crimes, assisting senior citizens and helping others in distress, and serve as reliable first responders during natural disasters and crises;

Now, Therefore I, Charlie Crist, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing January 11, 2010, as Champions of the Environment Day.”

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NSWMA – a sub-association of the Environmental Industry Associations – represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. NSWMA members conduct business in all 50 states.