By Susan Jarvis
September 14, 2009

Since 1982, the Municipal Waste Management Association (MWMA) has served as the environmental affiliate of The United States Conference of Mayors, providing senior level urban environmental professionals with the skills and resources they need to manage a city’s solid waste, public works, recycling, or environmental department. Every year, the Fall Summit provides participants with an opportunity to share cost saving solutions, identify industry trends, and have candid conversations about public works, solid waste, and environmental operations, and infrastructure. This year’s summit is no different. From October 28-30 in Orlando (FL), public works, solid waste and recycling directors will take updated looks at the “tool box” of the solid waste industry and explore both short and long term trends in waste to energy, legislation and regulations, and public-private partnerships. Sessions for the 2009 Fall Summit include:

• Trends in Waste To Energy Facilities and Technologies: Is your community considering an integrated waste management system? Hear from practitioners of tried and true technology and some early adapters of new technologies.

• Fundamentals of Safety Explore why getting back to basics is important during tough times.

• Trends in Public- Private Partnerships: Take a look at innovative and imaginative partnerships.

• Disaster Management: Is your city ready for a weather or man-made catastrophe. Hear from experts on how to make sure you’re prepared.

• How to Transition From General Fund to Enterprise Fund For Your Solid Waste Collection Services – Learn how to put your municipality on equal footing with the private companies.

• Explore the benefits of being an enterprise fund and learn how to convince your city you can do it.

• Innovative Enforcement for Illegal Dumping: A perennial top ten challenge for cities. Our host city will hare it’s innovative Illegal Dumping Enforcement Program.

• Trends in Recycling – Cities are looking beyond the “blue bin” to reduce waste and cost.

• The Urban Summit- This one-of-a-kind forum provides public sector participants with a closed-door session, allowing a candid discussion on important topics. Most participants leave with a new idea, solution or program that more than pays for their registration, making the 2009 Fall Summit an investment in your city’s progress.

For more information about the summit, or the MWMA, log onto usmayors.org/mwma, or contact Susan Jarvis at 202-861-6770 or send e-mail to sjarvis@usmayors.org