Association News

SWANA Offers Recycling Courses

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is offering several training courses in Corpus Christi, Texas, in early February, including certification courses in municipal and construction and demolition materials recycling.

In a week of SWANA certification classes that also includes courses on landfill and solid waste collection, SWANA is offering the following recycling-related courses:

• "Managing Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Systems," a three-day course that, according to SWANA, will "explore recycling technologies, markets, collections and program management" in preparation for the SWANA Recycling Systems Certification Exam.

• "Construction & Demolition: 3-Day Course," is touted as examining "the fundamental skills, abilities and knowledge important for the environmentally and economically sound design and operation of recycling disposal operations for C&D materials."

• "Managing Municipal Solid Waste Collections," another three-day course running from Feb. 6-8, this class reviews the logistics, planning, managing and operation of solid waste and recyclable collection services.

All three courses run Feb. 6-8 at the Omni Corpus Christi hotel in that Texas city.

Registration information is available online at SWANA’s Web site www.swana.org or by calling (800) 467-9262.

CMRA Prepares for Annual Meeting

The Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) has announced the programming scheduled for its 2008 Annual Meeting, which will take place in conjunction with the ConExpo-Con/Agg show.

The CMRA will offer the following programming on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at the Treasure Island Resort in Las Vegas:

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast

• 8:30 – 9:15 a.m.: "Recycling in the Highway Environment," featuring Peter Stephanos of the Federal Highway Administration

• 9:15 – 10 a.m.: "Life Cycle Assessment of C&D-derived Biomass and Wood Waste Management," featuring Dr. Jenna Jambeck of the University of New Hampshire

• 10:15 – 10:45 a.m.: "EPA’s Disaster Debris Recovery Network," featuring Paul Ruesch of the U.S. EPA

• 10:45 – 11 a.m.: Remarks from CMRA Executive Director William Turley

• 11 – 11:45 a.m.: CMRA Annual Meeting

• 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.: CMRA Reception.

CMRA members and others who register for the Annual Meeting will receive free access to the entire ConExpo-Con/Agg exhibit area, according to the CMRA. The cost is $200.

More information on how to register can be obtained from the CMRA at info@cdrecycling.org or at its Illinois office at (630) 585-7530.

Promotion at PCA

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has named Jim Niehoff as director of residential construction programs.

Niehoff has raised awareness of residential applications of cement-based systems for the past decade.

In his new role, he will oversee all PCA activities to expand the use of cement-based products in residential construction and will assure coordination with national material allies. In addition, Niehoff will have an active role in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Concrete Home Building Council.

While at PCA, Niefhoff has been the media spokesperson for the residential department and was the liaison for the NAHB and the New American Home program. He is an active member of the Insulating Concrete Form Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors and as chair of its Promotions Committee.

Prior to joining PCA in 1997, Niehoff was a marketing services manager at Gerber Plumbing Fixtures in Lincolnwood, Ill.