Who We Are

IN A NUTSHELL - ABOUT US AND OUR GOALS

For over 50 years, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has been the leading professional association in the solid waste field The association serves over 10,000 members throughout North America and nearly 1,100 members in California. SWANA’s mission is to educate, innovate and communicate. Contact us today if you have any questions.

The goal of SWANA’s advocacy program is to represent the interests of the solid waste profession by being a proactive advocate of environmentally and economically sound solid waste legislation and regulations. Legislative advocacy services for the California Chapters Legislative Task Force (LTF) are provided by Priscilla Quiroz of Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange. Information on the national organization and its chapters is available at https://www.swana.org.

HISTORY OF SWANA

SWANA’S Mission

Advancing the practice of environmentally and economically sound management of municipal solid waste in North America.

1961

In December of 1961 a small group of local government solid waste program supervisors in the Los Angeles basin led by Mr. Grant H. Flint, General Superintendent of Refuse Collection and Disposal for the City of Los Angeles, formed the Governmental Refuse Collection and Disposal Association (GRCDA) to provide a means for solid waste professionals to share information and promote training. That group became the Founding Chapter of GRCDA in April 1962 and is today known as the SWANA Southern California Founding Chapter.

1978

By 1978 GRCDA had grown to about 900 members in 10 chapters in various western states and parts of Canada and hired its first Executive Director, Lanny Hickman. July 1st of that year, GRCDA established its first permanent office at 16th & K. Street NW, Washington, D.C.

1981

In the summer of 1981, GRCDA moved their offices to Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

1992

In 1992 GRCDA changed its name to the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) to reflect how the field had broadened from refuse collection and disposal to all aspects of municipal solid waste management.

2020

In 2020 SWANA unveiled its new branding, including an updated set of logos that correlate to the resources SWANA provides its membership.