Jill and Sarah’s co-presenters are Edward Hood of GFL Environmental and Tyler Bandemer of the City of Loveland, Colorado.

Jill is a Principal Consultant and Environmental Economist based in Georgia with more than 30 years of experience focused on complex solid waste management issues. She has extensive experience with landfill, transfer station, and collection operations. She is the Vice Director of SWANA’s Collection and Transfer Technical Division.

Sarah is a Project Engineer based in Florida with experience in landfill design. Her work often includes hydrologic and geotechnical investigations, bench-scale and modeling studies of liner and cover systems, landfill gas management, waste composition studies, and cost-benefit analyses.

WASTECON, hosted by the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), brings together leaders and engineers in the field of solid waste and resource management as they work toward a more sustainable future. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Leadership Strategies with Technical Innovations.”

SWANA is an organization of more than 10,000 public and private sector professionals committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through their shared emphasis on education, advocacy, and research.

About the Presentation

Accidents in the solid waste industry jeopardize worker safety and impose significant financial burdens on companies. This presentation delves into practical approaches to mitigate these financial repercussions and foster a safer work environment.

Solid waste operations entail handling hazardous materials and operating heavy machinery, making accidents potentially costly regarding medical expenses, regulatory fines, operational disruptions, and increased insurance premiums. This session addresses these challenges and outlines comprehensive safety strategies tailored to the industry’s unique risks. Key to minimizing financial impacts is investing in robust safety training programs that address the skills employees need to handle materials safely and operate machinery effectively through rigorous safety protocols, including regular risk assessments and standardized operating procedures.

Gain insights into successful safety initiatives that have reduced accident rates and yielded significant financial savings. By implementing the strategies outlined in this presentation, companies can enhance safety, reduce financial risks, and foster a culture of continuous improvement in the solid waste industry.

After attending this session, participants will be able to accomplish the following:

• Reflect on the various direct and indirect costs associated with accidents, including medical expenses, regulatory fines, operational disruptions, legal costs, and increased insurance premiums.
• Prevent accidents using practical tools and training and reduce their financial impact.
• Ensure proactive reporting and a leadership commitment to safety.

More Information

Learn more about WASTECON.
Learn more about SWANA.
For consultations and information about solid waste management and advisory services, contact Jill at jgaffigan@geosyntec.com or Sarah at SGustitusGraham@Geosyntec.com.
Learn more about Jill: Jill Gaffigan (geosyntec.com)