SWANA is proud to announce the launch of its Safety Matters webpage. The Safety Matters Webpage is an online resource portal that will serve as a central place for SWANA members and other industry professionals to access the latest in safety news, important safety materials and upcoming safety events. Included on the webpage is information about each of SWANA’s new safety initiatives—including the Safety Ambassador program and Slow Down to Get Around decal distribution—and direct links to outside resources, such as OSHA and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Intelivert has signed on to be an official sponsor of the Safety Matters Webpage. Intelivert develops, delivers and supports software-as-a-service, portal, media and mobile solutions for business. Among their business solutions is a Workforce Safety and Management System. “Intelivert is very pleased to sponsor SWANA’s new safety webpage,” said Eric Aubrey, president and CEO of Intelivert. “We agree that reducing accidents and injuries in the solid waste industry needs to be a top priority, and applaud SWANA’s renewed focus on safety issues.”
The Safety Matters Webpage is yet another example of SWANA’s growing focus on and commitment to safety. The Webpage will continue to grow and expand in the coming months as additional safety initiatives and resources are added. “There’s lots of work to be done to get the waste collection industry off the list of top 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S.,” said SWANA Executive Director and CEO David Biderman. “With our Safety Matters Webpage, our goal is to provide the helpful and necessary resources to contribute to reducing accidents and injuries in the industry, in both the United States and Canada. Nothing we do is more important.”
For more information, visit www.swana.org/safety.
New Reports Reveal Success of Paint Recycling Program
The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) released two reports that shed light on how the industry-run PaintCare stewardship program benefits retailers, residents, contractors, and local governments. In one report, PSI evaluated the California paint stewardship program, while the other assessed how paint stewardship relates to existing local government-run programs that collect household hazardous waste (HHW) from residents. Together, these two reports reveal the successes and challenges of the PaintCare program in five of the states in which it operates: California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Vermont. Key takeaways from the two evaluations include:
- Retailers are highly satisfied with the PaintCare program: 85 percent of respondents from retail dropoff sites in California indicated that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the state’s paint stewardship program; 88 percent indicated that they would recommend that paint retailers in other states participate in a similar recycling program.
- Paint stewardship can save local governments money:76 percent of HHW programs surveyed reported cost savings, at an average of $151,905 annually. In addition, PaintCare has covered more than $52 million in transportation and processing costs for leftover paint since 2009—costs normally borne by local governments.
- The PaintCare program creates more convenient options for residents: Before the California PaintCare program launched in October 2012, there were 144 paint drop-off sites in the state. There are now over 733 drop-off sites, including 583 at retail locations.
“From high retailer satisfaction to increased recycling rates and government financial savings, these reports show that the PaintCare program is working,” said Scott Cassel, chief executive officer and founder of the Product Stewardship Institute. “This program is a prime example of how governments and businesses can work together to realize significant environmental and economic benefits.”
For more information, visit www.productstewardship.us.
Employers must post 300A injury/illness summary form February through April
OSHA is reminding covered employers to post OSHA’s Form 300A which summarizes the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses logged during 2015. The summary must be posted between Feb. 1 and April 30, 2016, and should be displayed in a common area where notices to employees are usually posted.
Employers with 10 or fewer employees and employers in specific low-hazard industries are normally exempt from federal OSHA injury and illness recordkeeping and posting requirements. Due to changes in OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements that went into effect Jan. 1, 2015, certain previously exempt industries are now covered. Lists of both exempt and newly covered industries are available on OSHA’s website. Visit OSHA’s Recordkeeping Rule webpage for more information on recordkeeping requirements.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
NGVAmerica Applauds Passage of Alternative Fuel and Infrastructure Tax Credits
NGVAmerica applauds the U.S. Senate and House for passing tax legislation that extends the natural gas fuel and infrastructure tax credits for two years—retroactively for 2015 and for all of 2016. The measure now goes to the President for his signature. “Passage of the alternative fuel tax and infrastructure credits means hundreds of millions in savings to NGVAmerica members and their customers for using clean-burning natural gas for their transportation needs,” said NGVAmerica President Matthew Godlewski. “Congress clearly recognizes the economic, environmental and energy security benefits of natural gas in powering fleets across the country.
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 extends numerous provisions of the tax code that expired at the end of 2014 or during 2015. NGVAmerica supported key provisions contained in the act, including:
- Extension of Alternative Fuel Excise Tax Credit, which extends the $0.50 per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) and gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) credit/payment for the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel; and
- Extension of Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit, which extends the 30 percent/$30,000 investment tax credit for alternative vehicle refueling property and the $1,000 tax credit for home refueling appliances.
Also included are the extension of several other tax provisions including the 50 percent bonus depreciation option for nearly all business equipment placed in service in 2015. “As Congressional leaders contemplate tax reform next year, we look forward to discussing long-term proposals that promote the further adoption of natural gas as a transportation fuel,” said Godlewski.
For more information, visit www.ngvamerica.org.
NWRA and Joyce Engineering Partner on Training and Certification Program
The NWRA announced a partnership with Joyce Engineering for a Waste Management Facility Operator Training and Certification Program. NWRA has long been committed to safety in the waste and recycling industry, a driving factor behind the partnership. “Safety is a top priority for our industry and is an area that our members are dedicated to achieving continuous improvement,” said Sharon H. Kneiss, NWRA president and CEO. “This program creates a valuable avenue of training and professional development for operators at industry facilities and will help to move the needle for on-site safety.”
Joyce Engineering worked with the association in the past to provide training and has taught or certified 1000’s of landfill, transfer station and MRF operators throughout the U.S. Certifications such as these elevate the competency and knowledge level of these industry professionals, making workplaces safer. The expertise Joyce Engineering provides in developing the training course is invaluable. “Training and certification are instrumental in ensuring that the waste and recycling industry remains safe and efficient.” said Leonard Joyce, President and CEO of Joyce Engineering. “We look forward to building on our 20 years of training industry professionals in partnership with NWRA and its members.”
For more information, visit www.wasterecycling.org.