Solid Waste Association of North America
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersSilver Spring, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Solid Waste Association of North America firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Legal name
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Website
- https://swana.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Solid Waste Association of North America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Silver Spring
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solid Waste Association of North America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to technical resources, training, certification programs, chapters, technical divisions, and industry publications.
- Training and Certification Fees: Revenue from instructor-led courses, self-study @Home courses, online courses, certification exams (US$250 for members, US$400 for non-members), and recertification fees (US$250 per three-year term).
- Events and Conferences: Registration fees for RCon (annual international conference), chapter events, webinars, and experiential tours.
- Recorded Webinar and eCourse Sales: Sale of recorded webinar access and OnDemand eCourses to members and non-members, with tiered pricing (member vs. non-member rates).
- Store and Publications: Sales of SWANA publications, technical guides, and branded merchandise through the SWANA store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual professional membership for individuals in the waste and resource management industry |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Certification exam fees |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Recertification fees for all certification programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Recorded webinar access pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Solid Waste Association of North America product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SWANA is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers industry-specific training, professional certification, applied research, safety programs, and advocacy for the solid waste and resource management sector across North America. Core offerings include certifications (MOLO, Collection & Transfer, Landfill & Landfill Gas, Planning & Management, Safety Training, Sustainable Materials Management), instructor-led and self-paced courses, live/recorded webinars, the RCon annual conference, the Applied Research Foundation, and the Collaborative Just Culture safety program.
Product overview
SWANA operates as a membership-based professional association offering a unified portfolio of training programs, professional certifications, industry events, and safety resources for the solid waste and resource management sector. The core offerings include certification programs (MOLO, Collection & Transfer, Landfill & Landfill Gas, etc.), the annual RCon conference, the Applied Research Foundation for industry research, safety initiatives including the Collaborative Just Culture Program, and online learning through self-study courses and webinars. The association also provides technical divisions, a Young Professionals program, and advocacy resources for its members across North America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Fatality rate for refuse and recyclable materials collectors dropped from 41.4 to 37.4 per 100,000 FTE between 2023 and 2024, attributed in part to SWANA safety programs and industry awareness.
Companies that use Solid Waste Association of North America
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solid Waste Association of North America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Solid Waste Association of North America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF)coreSWANA and EREF signed an MOU at the Global Waste Management Symposium in Indian Wells, California to formalize collaboration advancing research, education, and awareness in the solid waste and resource management sector. The agreement combines SWANA's professional membership with EREF's research focus to expand the impact of research findings and educational programming. EREF will also add public sector representation to its research council based on recommendations from SWANA.
- Fire RovercoreSWANA and Fire Rover launched a collaborative webpage to improve battery safety and prevent fires caused by improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries in the waste and recycling stream. The webpage includes a searchable battery drop-off locator, an anonymous fire reporting feature for data collection, and educational resources. Fire Rover, a corporate partner of SWANA, provides fire detection and suppression solutions designed to identify and stop fires before they become catastrophic.
- WM (Waste Management)coreWM (formerly Waste Management), North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions, joined SWANA as a corporate partner to advance safety and best practices across the waste and resource management industry. WM is expected to participate in SWANA's key initiatives including the Safety Workshop and RCon 2026, and will contribute thought leadership and technical expertise. Many WM employees have been active SWANA volunteers and leaders.
- Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)coreSWANA and PSI formalized a partnership to advance circular economy initiatives and address emerging challenges in US waste management systems. The agreement establishes frameworks for coordinating on priority issues including lithium-ion battery safety, vape disposal, and compressed gas cylinder management, with planned cross-participation in technical workgroups, joint webinars, and shared educational events. This builds on SWANA's broader trend of collaborative initiatives.
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)coreSWANA renewed its alliance with OSHA to address workplace safety hazards in the waste sector, working alongside the National Waste & Recycling Association to promote safer operations and regulatory compliance.
- National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)coreSWANA, NWRA, and ReMA released a joint guide for managing lithium-ion batteries at materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to address growing fire risks. The associations also launched a national PSA campaign during CES to educate consumers about proper battery disposal.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solid Waste Association of North America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Solid Waste Association (ISWA): ISWA is the global counterpart to SWANA, serving solid waste management professionals worldwide through working groups, congresses, and publications. SWANA explicitly partners with ISWA via its Young Professionals Group, confirming close operational comparability.
- WasteExpo: WasteExpo is the largest US trade show for the waste, recycling, and organics industry, run by the Waste360/Informa brand. It is the most direct event-based competitor to SWANA's RCon, competing for exhibitor and attendee mindshare.
- Product Stewardship Institute (PSI): PSI is a policy-focused nonprofit advancing extended producer responsibility and circular economy in the US. SWANA's recent partnership with PSI on lithium-ion batteries, vape disposal, and cylinder management makes it a directly comparable mission-aligned peer.
- Recycled Materials Association (ReMA): ReMA (formerly ISRI) is the US trade association for the recycling industry and a SWANA collaborator on the lithium-ion battery MRF guide. It competes for recycling-industry professionals and advocacy attention, making it a directly comparable peer.
- National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA): NWRA is the leading US trade association representing private-sector waste and recycling haulers, directly comparable to SWANA in its advocacy, training, events, and safety mission. SWANA and NWRA co-publish guidance and share OSHA alliance work, making them closest direct competitors for member mindshare.
- Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF): EREF is a research-focused nonprofit for the solid waste industry, recently entering a formal MOU with SWANA. It is directly comparable as a US-based nonprofit serving the same industry with overlapping research, education, and stakeholder engagement missions.
Emerging players
- AMCS Group: AMCS is a software vendor for the waste and recycling industry, listed in SWANA's Professional Services Directory. It is comparable as a participant in the same customer ecosystem, though its commercial software model differs from SWANA's association model.
Others
- RouteSmart Technologies: RouteSmart provides route optimization software for public works and waste collection, listed in SWANA's Professional Services Directory. It serves the same buyer base but operates as a commercial software vendor rather than an association.
- Paradigm Software: Paradigm Software provides landfill operations and environmental compliance software, listed in SWANA's Professional Services Directory. It is adjacent to SWANA's mission through its service to landfill operators — the same professionals SWANA certifies.
Regional players
- California Refuse Recycling Council (CRRC): CRRC is a state-level waste and recycling association in California that mirrors SWANA's mission at the regional level. It is comparable as a peer professional association competing for California member loyalty within SWANA's broader geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solid Waste Association of North America social profiles
Digital presenceSolid Waste Association of North America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solid Waste Association of North America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Solid Waste Association of North America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solid Waste Association of North America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solid Waste Association of North America
What does Solid Waste Association of North America do?
SWANA is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers industry-specific training, professional certification, applied research, safety programs, and advocacy for the solid waste and resource management sector across North America. Core offerings include certifications (MOLO, Collection & Transfer, Landfill & Landfill Gas, Planning & Management, Safety Training, Sustainable Materials Management), instructor-led and self-paced courses, live/recorded webinars, the RCon annual conference, the Applied Research Foundation, and the Collaborative Just Culture safety program.
Is Solid Waste Association of North America a public or private company?
Solid Waste Association of North America is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Solid Waste Association of North America founded?
Solid Waste Association of North America was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solid Waste Association of North America based?
Solid Waste Association of North America is headquartered in Silver Spring, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solid Waste Association of North America make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Professional Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are training and Certification Fees, events and Conferences, recorded Webinar and eCourse Sales and store and Publications.
Who are Solid Waste Association of North America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), WasteExpo, Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) and Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF). AMCS Group is listed as an emerging player. Others are RouteSmart Technologies and Paradigm Software. California Refuse Recycling Council (CRRC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Solid Waste Association of North America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solid Waste Association of North America.