Sustainable Materials Management Technical Division

The SWANA Sustainable Materials Management Technical Division (SMM TD) has many opportunities for you to contribute your own expertise, as well as benefit from the wealth of knowledge of other members. This is an active group dedicated to environmental sustainability and the economics of minimizing municipal solid waste disposal.

The SMM TD works to promote state-of-the-art approaches to improving management and profitability of waste reduction, recycling, organics management, and special waste programs. SMM TD members view waste as a resource and strive for circular economy results. Here are a few examples:

• Reducing waste at the source prevents the need to manage materials at end of use.
• Reusing and refurbishing items prolongs their useful life. 
• Recycling creates jobs, conserves natural resources, and saves energy.
• Domestic recycling helps strengthen the US economy. 
• Food rescue and recovery ensures that edible food nourishes hungry people and animals.
• Organic wastes (food scraps and plant material) can be responsibly managed to reduce landfilled material and produce beneficial end products, such as compost and renewable energy.
• Special wastes, some of which can be hazardous, must be managed and processed safely and appropriately.
• Sustainable materials management helps sustain the environment for future generations.