By Susan Jarvis Moody
December 9, 2002

Whether working with cities to streamline and manage waste disposal and recycling, partnering with school systems to improve science education or educating policy makers on the nuisances of tire recycling, successful public-private partnerships have similar foundations.

"Public-Private partnerships," began Everett Bass, Vice President, Public Sector Service, for Waste Management Inc., "are fundamentally about people. Successful partnerships begin with discussions of public and private sector solutions, not pubic or private sector solutions." During his presentation, Bass shared three successful public-private initiatives, involving Waste Management and Monroe County (NY), Prince George's County (MD) and Ferris (TX). In all three examples, Waste Management and the community viewed the partnership as "win-win."

While Bass discussed contractual relationships, Barry Stutts, Manager of Responsible Care for the Bayer Corporation, shared some insights into non-contractual partnerships. The Allegheny School Science and Education and Technology (ASSET) Inc., was developed by the Bayer Corporation in 1992 to improve science education in public schools. The Southwest Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste task force is a "work in progress." Industry, non-profits and local governments have partnered to facilitate the proper collection and disposal of HHW.

Dan Zielinski, communications manager, for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, discussed the Be Smart Play Your Part campaign, focused on maximizing safety for consumers and communicating it's importance to policy makers.

While all three panelists had diverse subjects, the fundamentals of successful public private partnerships remained constant. As the attendees learned, successful public-private partnerships have an adaptable and replicable model. For information on the specifics of each program, log on to usmayors.org/mwma.