Solid Waste Association of North America

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to technical resources, training, certification programs, chapters, technical divisions, and industry publications.
2. 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).
3. Events and Conferences: Registration fees for RCon (annual international conference), chapter events, webinars, and experiential tours.
4. 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).
5. Store and Publications: Sales of SWANA publications, technical guides, and branded merchandise through the SWANA store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026SWANA 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 RovercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026SWANA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026WM (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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026SWANA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026SWANA 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025SWANA, 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/swana
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV9SayYDBovqqyg_TTCJRvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SolidWasteAssociationOfNorthAmerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swana
• Instagraminstagram.com/swanahq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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