Air & Waste Management Association

What Air & Waste Management Association does

The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1907 that serves environmental practitioners working in air pollution control, waste management, environmental compliance, regulatory affairs, and consulting. The association functions as a neutral technical forum for exchanging information on air quality and waste management, operating across publications, events, professional development, and community programs. Its core outputs are content-driven rather than technology-driven: there is no proprietary technology platform, and the organization focuses on knowledge dissemination, continuing education, networking, and career development rather than building software products.

A&WMA's product portfolio centers on three publication assets — EM Magazine (a monthly magazine for environmental managers), the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal described as one of the oldest continuously published in the field), and EM Plus (a quarterly mailed supplement) — alongside an event portfolio built around the Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE), specialty conferences on PFAS, methane, air quality models, and hazardous waste combustion, plus webinars, the A&WMA Leadership Academy, a career center, mentoring, a newswire, a buyers guide, and a New Source Review manual. Distribution runs through awma.org, print and digital flipbook/PDF/mobile app channels, social media on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and a network of regional sections and chapters. A strategic partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency supports co-developed technical programming such as the MEGA Symposium on Electric Power Transformation.

A&WMA's revenue model is diversified across six streams: individual and organizational membership dues (subscription recurring), conference registration fees for ACE and specialty conferences (transaction), publication subscriptions (subscription recurring), tiered corporate sponsorships and advertising (Strategic Sponsor $14,500, Impact $9,500, Advocate $4,500), professional development courses (professional services), and corporate/organizational membership packages. The go-to-market motion is community-led, with member acquisition driven by sections, chapters, conferences, webinars, and continuing education rather than outbound sales. The association is member-governed, privately held with no parent company or external investment, and has no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Air & Waste Management Association

Legal name

Air & Waste Management Association

Website

https://awma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

A&WMA is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit professional association founded in 1907 that serves environmental practitioners worldwide through peer-reviewed publications (EM Magazine, JA&WMA), the annual ACE conference and specialty events, professional development courses, and a member-governed community of air quality and waste management professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Environmental professional association
• Air quality management
• Waste management services
• Environmental publications
• Professional development courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for professionals, students, and organizations providing access to publications, events, sections/chapters, and career resources.
2. Conference Revenue: Registration fees for Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) and specialty conferences including PFAS, methane, air quality models, and thermal treatment technologies. Sponsorship and exhibit fees from companies.
3. Publication Subscriptions: Subscription revenue from Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA), EM Magazine, and EM Plus quarterly publication. Online access and print-on-demand options.
4. Sponsorships and Advertising: Sponsorship packages for ACE conference (Strategic Sponsor $14,500, Impact Sponsor $9,500, Advocate Sponsor $4,500) and advertising in EM Magazine and on website.
5. Professional Development Courses: Fees for continuing education courses, leadership academy, and professional development programs.
6. Organizational Membership: Corporate/organizational membership packages for companies seeking visibility and involvement in the environmental industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

A&WMA is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers peer-reviewed publications (JA&WMA journal, EM Magazine, EM Plus), the Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) and specialty conferences, webinars, professional development courses, leadership training, and career/mentoring resources to environmental practitioners. It serves individual professionals, students, and corporate/organizational members in air pollution control, waste management, and related environmental fields, supported by an international network of regional sections and chapters.

Product overview

The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) operates as a professional association offering a unified portfolio of publications, conferences, and professional development services for environmental professionals. The core offerings include EM Magazine (monthly publication for environmental managers), the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (peer-reviewed research journal), and EM Plus (quarterly supplement). Event-based services comprise the ACE Annual Conference & Exhibition and multiple Specialty Conferences covering topics like PFAS, methane management, and air quality. Additional offerings include Webinars, the A&WMA Leadership Academy, Career Center & Mentoring, A&WMA Newswire, Buyers Guide, New Source Review Manual, and a mobile App for accessing publications. Members receive access to publications and can participate in continuing education, networking, and industry events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EM Magazine Monthly magazine for environmental managers covering regulatory changes, EPA research, new technologies, market analyses, and association news; included with A&WMA membership and available via flipbook, PDF, mobile app, and print-on-demand.
• Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (JA&WMA) Peer-reviewed scholarly journal on air quality, waste management, and environmental science, among the oldest continuously published peer-reviewed technical environmental journals in the world.
• EM Plus Quarterly publication mailed to U.S. and Canada members, providing highlights from EM issues, exclusive value-added content, and association news.
• Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) Premier annual conference and exhibition for the air pollution control and waste management industry, featuring technical sessions, exhibits, networking events, and professional development opportunities.
• Specialty Conferences Targeted conferences on specific environmental topics including PFAS, methane management, air quality models, thermal treatment technologies, and hazardous waste combustors.
• Webinars Online educational webinars covering current environmental topics such as Micro & Nanoplastics, PFAS, methane management, and emerging contaminants, offering professional development and continuing education credits.
• A&WMA Leadership Academy Professional development program designed to develop leadership skills for environmental professionals.
• Career Center & Mentoring Career resources including job listings, mentoring programs, and professional networking opportunities for environmental professionals.
• A&WMA App Mobile application for reading EM Magazine with interactive features, enhanced digital content, and portability for accessing publications on the go.
• New Source Review Manual Reference manual providing guidance on New Source Review regulatory requirements under the Clean Air Act.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Naylor Association SolutionsminorOthersNaylor Association Solutions provides association management software and website hosting services for awma.org. The partnership enables online membership management, event registration, and digital publication distribution.
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA collaborates with A&WMA on conferences and technical programming, including the MEGA Symposium on Electric Power Transformation. EPA officials participate as speakers and presenters at A&WMA events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• International Society of Environmental Forensics: A smaller professional society focused on environmental forensic investigation, conferences, and publications. Comparable to A&WMA in mission and event-driven model, but narrower in topic and reach.

Direct peers

• National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP): A multidisciplinary association for environmental practitioners across industry, government, and consulting. Comparable to A&WMA as a membership-based organization hosting annual conferences and providing professional development in the environmental field.
• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA): A nonprofit professional association for occupational and environmental health practitioners offering conferences, continuing education, and publications. Comparable to A&WMA in serving environmental-health professionals through membership, events, and a peer-reviewed journal.
• Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA): A professional association for the solid waste and recycling industry offering conferences, certifications, publications, and member services. Directly comparable to A&WMA's waste-management membership, events, and education portfolio, but narrowly focused on solid waste.
• Water Environment Federation: A nonprofit technical and educational association serving water-quality professionals through publications, conferences (e.g., WEFTEC), and member services. Closely comparable to A&WMA in mission, structure, and revenue model, but focused on the water sector rather than air and waste.
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC): A global nonprofit professional society for environmental scientists and toxicologists that delivers annual meetings, regional events, and peer-reviewed publications. Directly comparable to A&WMA as a member-funded environmental science association with conference and journal revenue.

Others

• Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI): A nonprofit policy organization that educates policymakers on environmental and energy topics through briefings and publications. Adjacent to A&WMA's educational mission, but focused on policy advocacy rather than technical practitioner membership.
• Air Pollution Control Association (historical predecessor): The historical predecessor organization that merged into A&WMA. Included for context rather than as an active competitor; relevant only to understanding A&WMA's lineage and brand continuity.

Broad incumbents

• American Chemical Society (ACS): One of the largest scientific professional organizations in the world, with conferences, journals, and member services spanning chemistry and adjacent environmental science. Comparable to A&WMA as a peer-reviewed publishing and conference-driven scientific society, but with much broader scope and scale.
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): A large professional association offering conferences, journals, and continuing education for engineers, including environmental engineering. Comparable in nonprofit association structure and conference/publication model, though broader in scope than A&WMA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AirandWaste
• Facebookfacebook.com/AirandWasteManagementAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/445959

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 Air & Waste Management Association