Archive for May 20th, 2009

SWANA Supports Changes Made to the Climate Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Robert Wolfe

Manager of Marketing & Communications

240-494-2256

rwolfe@swana.org


The Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a revised draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 HR 2454 that included a number of changes consistent with SWANA’s recommendations in an April 28 letter.


On Friday, May 15, Chairman Waxman introduced a revised draft of HR 2454 that is much more supportive of waste-to-energy operations and recognizes their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.


Consistent with SWANA’s recommendations, waste-to-energy operations would no longer be regulated under the cap in this version of the bill. The May 15 draft specifically excludes operations that derive 95% or more of their energy from municipal solid waste.


The revised renewable portfolio standard in HR 2454 includes “qualified waste-to-energy” as an eligible renewable source. Energy derived from the combustion, gasification or pyrolization of municipal solid waste and construction, demolition or disaster debris would qualify as a renewable as long as it meets a number of stipulations.


The draft also includes waste-to-energy as an eligible renewable under the federal renewable purchasing program.


“SWANA is very pleased that the renewable energy and climate benefits of waste-to-energy are now recognized in the climate bill,” said John H. Skinner, Ph.D. SWANA Executive Director and CEO. “While there are still a number of questions and concerns that need to be resolved in the bill’s language, SWANA looks forward to working with the Congress in improving this important legislation,” Skinner added.


About SWANA:

For 40 years, SWANA, the Solid Waste Association of North America, has been the leading professional association in the solid waste management field. SWANA’s mission is “to advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound management of municipal solid waste.” SWANA serves over 8,000 members and thousands more industry professionals with technical conferences, certifications, publications and a large offering of technical training courses. For more information, visit www.SWANA.org.

Mack Sponsors Driving Skills Safety Challenge At WasteExpo 2009, June 9 & 10

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA (May 20, 2009) – Mack Trucks, Inc. will again sponsor a Driving Skills Safety Challenge during the WasteExpo 2009 show. The competition will be held in the Silver lot #4 next to the Renaissance Hotel outside the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 9 and 10, 2009. The competition runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10.


The competition is open to any driver at least 18 years of age with a valid CDL who shows proof of operator training, and is registered for the show. This year’s event will include individual and team competitions (two operators per team).


Contestants will operate their choice of MACK® TerraPro™ Low Entry and Cabover models in a closed course set up to simulate actual refuse conditions. Operators must complete a pre-operation safety check and successfully navigate the skills course. Each individual will have one (1) attempt. Scoring will be based on accuracy and adherence to safety procedures. Specific scoring rules will be provided at the event. Complete rules for the competition can be found at http://www.macktrucks.com/default.aspx?pageid=2218.


First-, second-, and third-place overall event winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 during the Environmental Research and Education Foundation’s (EREF) Auction.


Mack will give away more than $15,000 in prizes during the two-day competition. In addition to trophies, the following prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in the individual competition, as well as to each operator in the top three two-person teams:


First Place: $500 gift certificate, a GPS navigation display, watch, and sunglasses


Second Place: $300 gift certificate and a Mack Citizen Eco-Drive watch


Third Place: $100 gift certificate and a chrome Mack Bulldog


All contestants will receive a Mack hat, money clip, duffel bag and a thermos with case.


“Refuse industry drivers make a critical contribution to safety every day as they travel crowded urban streets or make thousands of pickups on neighborhood roads,” said Michael Reardon, Mack vice president of marketing. “It takes real skill and awareness to be safe and productive in this type of operation. Mack designed this competition to highlight the professionalism of refuse truck drivers.”


Dedicated to quality, reliability, and total customer satisfaction, Mack Trucks, Inc. has provided its customers with innovative transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and MACK® vehicles are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide. All Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality and ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations’ public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.


Mack Trucks, Inc. is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services, and one of the world’s leading producers of heavy-diesel engines (9-16 liter). The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 19 countries and sells their products in more than 180 markets. Volvo Group sales for 2008 amounted to over $46 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange and are traded OTC in the U.S.


For more information about Mack, visit our Web site at www.macktrucks.com.

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