Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials

Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
Name	Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials
Formation	1960s
Type	nonprofit membership association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States, Territories

Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials is an American nonprofit membership organization that represents state and territorial officials responsible for solid waste, recycling, hazardous waste, and materials management programs. It functions as a professional network linking state environmental agencies, territorial departments, municipal solid waste programs, and federal partners to share technical guidance, policy analysis, and programmatic best practices. The organization engages with regulatory frameworks, intergovernmental initiatives, and industry stakeholders to influence implementation of federal statutes and regional programs.

History

Founded during the environmental policy expansions of the late 20th century, the organization emerged amid shifts in federal statutes such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and programs administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Early conferences involved delegations from state environmental agencies including representatives from California Environmental Protection Agency, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Over ensuing decades it expanded activities alongside major events like the Superfund program rollouts, the implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, and interstate compacts modeled after precedents such as the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Leaders and affiliates have interacted with figures and institutions including commissioners from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, administrators from the National Conference of State Legislatures, and directors aligned with the Council of State Governments.

Mission and Objectives

The association's mission centers on strengthening state and territorial capacity for materials management in alignment with national priorities advanced by agencies such as the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration when marine debris and coastal waste issues arise. Objectives include technical assistance for compliance with statutes like the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, facilitating interagency coordination with entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster debris, and promoting model policies adopted by bodies such as the Environmental Council of the States and the Association of State Wetland Managers.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises chief solid waste officers and technical staff from state environmental agencies including organizations in Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and territorial counterparts such as the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. Governance typically involves an elected board with officers drawn from member jurisdictions, advisory committees that coordinate with policy groups like the National Governors Association and the National Association of Counties, and technical workgroups that liaise with standards bodies including the American Society for Testing and Materials and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on equipment and measurement protocols.

Programs and Activities

Programs include technical training, peer exchanges, and annual conferences that attract attendees from agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, consulting firms with ties to Bechtel Corporation, municipal officials from the City of Los Angeles, and nonprofit partners like The Nature Conservancy. Activities span state capacity-building workshops modeled on curricula from the National Academy of Sciences, pilot projects in partnership with the Sierra Club and World Resources Institute on recycling innovation, and coordination of emergency debris response aligning with protocols from American Public Works Association and Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.

Policy Advocacy and Partnerships

The association engages in advocacy by providing state perspectives to federal rulemakings led by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and testimony before congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Partnerships extend to international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme on transboundary waste issues, trade associations including the National Waste & Recycling Association, and philanthropic funders like the Walton Family Foundation for circular economy pilots.

Publications and Resources

It produces technical reports, model legislation templates, and guidance documents used by offices like the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Publications have covered topics linked to federal programs including guidance on RCRA implementation, landfill methane mitigation informed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, and procurement guides reflecting standards from the U.S. General Services Administration. The association also curates webinars and data tools drawing on research from institutions such as the Battelle Memorial Institute and the Brookings Institution.

Funding and Financial Structure

Funding sources include membership dues from state and territorial agencies, grants and cooperative agreements from federal agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Agency for International Development for international assistance, and project-specific support from foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation. Financial oversight is managed through audited budgets, contracts with fiscal agents comparable to arrangements used by the National Association of State Energy Officials, and fiscal compliance aligned with standards from the Government Accountability Office.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States Category:Environmental organizations based in the United States