Safety First in the Solid Waste Industry
SWANA Safety Initiatives
Safety Awards
Presented annually at RCon™, SWANA Safety Awards honor safety best practices and successes.
Safety Resources
SWANA delivers a variety of safety resources that address top issues facing the industry, including guidelines for developing lithium battery management practices.
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Collaborative Just Culture® Cohort
Through a collaboration with SG Collaborative Solutions, SWANA is offering a discount for SWANA members to participate in the innovative Collaborative Just Culture® Program.
Lithium-ion Batteries
Batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, present significant challenges for collection, recycling, and disposal due to the potential for hazardous reactions. SWANA launched a Lithium-Ion Battery Workgroup to focus on the issue and has developed several resources.
View Lithium-ion Battery Information and Resources »
Learn more about a collaborative resource for battery drop-off sites, fire prevention guidance, and incident reporting on the SWANA and Fire Rover partnership page.
Safety Leaders
- SWANA Safety Ambassadors serve as safety leaders in all 47 SWANA Chapters in the United States and Canada.
- The SWANA Safety Committee guides SWANA’s safety programs, resources, and initiatives in collaboration with SWANA staff and Safety Ambassadors.
Safety First
Safety First is a weekly newsletter with safety tips to share at meetings and for posting around your workplace.
Hauler Outreach
Share SWANA resources by hosting a Hauler Safety Outreach event.
Safety Pledge
Take the SWANA Safety Pledge to show your commitment to protecting yourself and others from harm every day.
5 to Stay Alive
SWANA has a safety campaign of five simple tips to help solid waste workers stay safe on the job.
American National Standards for Waste and Recycling
American National Standards (ANSs) applicable to Equipment Technology and Operations for Wastes and Recyclable Materials.
Safety Training
SWANA has partnered with Blue Ridge Services, Inc. to provide comprehensive safety training for solid waste industry workers and operators.
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Safety Blog Posts and Related Events
Safety Blog Posts
Safety First: Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
February 27, 2026
Safety First: Respiratory Protection
February 20, 2026
Advocacy Updates: State, National EPR; Endangerment Finding Repeal & More
February 18, 2026
Related Events
