FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 13, 2015
DEP CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL SWIX PARTNERING
~Partnership increases communication and compliance~
ORLANDO – Today,
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Central District hosted a
quarterly Solid Waste Directors Information Exchange (SWIX) meeting at its Orlando Office. Featuring regular roundtables that discuss current issues and
concerns, SWIX has been a valuable repository of information for both
businesses and government agencies. Today’s meeting falls on the 20th
anniversary of the partnership.
“These
meetings with our regulated community are essential to opening up lines of
communication, while also providing compliance assistance,” said Central
District Director Jeff Prather. “Having a positive, collaborative rapport with
our customers is key to increasing compliance rates and environmental
protection.”
The
SWIX partnership was implemented by the Central District Solid Waste (CDSW) Program in
1995 to provide a forum for solid waste directors to discuss operations issues with
other facilities. The forum ensures that everyone hears the same
interpretations of the solid waste statutes and rules. The meetings also provide
an opportunity for the CDSW experts to provide
compliance assistance and information to county solid waste directors. Over
the past 20 years, these information exchange meetings have proven valuable to
many organizations.
Johnny Edwards, manager of the solid waste management division for Seminole County's environmental services department said, "Decisions
necessitate information. Over many years and in a few different roles, the
Solid Waste Information Exchange meetings have provided me with different
ideas, clarifications and new information that I have absolutely used in
decision-making processes."
Initially,
SWIX participants included Brevard, Lake, Marion, Indian River, Orange, Osceola
Counties and the City of St. Cloud. The privately owned JED
municipal solid waste landfill located in Osceola County joined the group
several years later. In 2012, redrawn boundary lines placed Indian River County
in the Southeast District, and the Central District gained Sumter County. Both Sumter County Public Works Department
and the privately owned Heart of Florida/ACMS municipal solid waste landfill became
a members of the core group.
Each
meeting brings 20-25 attendees to the table, and today’s meeting included
discussion on the revisions to Chapter 62-701, long-term care for closed cells, and benefits and history of this and partnerships in general.
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