The National Solid Wastes Management Association has launched a major public relations campaign designed to increase public awareness of the importance and the work of the solid waste industry.

The association’s release is below:

SOLID WASTE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM

Highlights ‘Everyday Environmentalism’ of Industry’s Employees

(Washington, DC) – The National Solid Waste Management Association (NSWMA) today announced the launch of Environmentalists. Every Day: America’s Solid Waste Industry, a national awareness program to help local communities, public officials and the media better appreciate the local and national importance of the industry to public health and environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

“In every community, the men and women of America’s solid waste industry play an increasingly important role in solving some of today’s most pressing environmental challenges, protecting the environment and public health by efficiently and reliably removing and managing the nation’s trash. We are leaders in recycling and composting. We are leaders in generating renewable energy from solid waste,” said Bruce Parker NSWMA President and CEO. “Environmentalism isn’t just an idea or goal for us; it’s the way that our do our work, 24/7, every day.”

“Our new program will help the people who work in our industry tell their customers, neighbors and friends about the contributions they make to their communities and the nation,” said Parker.

As part of the Environmentalists. Every Day. program, NSWMA has launched a visitor-friendly web site (www.environmentalistseveryday.org ), which explains the waste collection process; provides information on the industry’s efforts to protect the environment and transform household trash into renewable resources; and offers tips for consumers to be more responsible with their waste. The site will be frequently updated with news, fact sheets and other materials, including chats and surveys.

The association also has produced a comprehensive toolkit to help its members reach out to their communities to educate residents, business owners, local officials, the media and other stakeholders about the essentiality of solid waste management.

NSWMA plans ongoing training to assist members and their employees in carrying out awareness programs that demonstrate the crucial role of the solid waste industry in their local communities, and the industry’s commitment to environmental protection and preservation. The training program will include regional hands-on workshops as well as regularly scheduled webinars.

“Our goal is to support a true sense of pride in the men and women who work in our industry, improve their overall job satisfaction, educate their families and neighbors about the tremendous importance of their jobs, and help the industry continue to recruit and retain the very best employees,” said Parker.

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NSWMA represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry.

The economic gloom-and-doom continued yesterday when Daimler AG announced that it will discontinue its Sterling Trucks line next March. Daimler will close two plants that produce Sterling trucks — one in Portland, Ore., and one in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada — resulting in the loss of approximately 3,500 jobs, according to media reports.

“This is an indication of how bad things are,” Michael Tyndall, an analyst at Nomura Securities in London told Bloomberg News. “It’s positive for the long term, but everyone’s focused on the short term.”

Daimler’s press release announcing the move can be read by clicking here.

And here are a handful of news stories on the move:

• The aforementioned Bloomberg article.

• An article by Forbes.com.

• One from The New York Times.

• And, finally, the Wall Street Journal’s take.