Member News
A Message from our President
The value of SWANA Gold Rush Chapter membership, past, present, and future
2024 wrapped up with lots of SWANA Gold Rush Chapter (GRC) action and 2025 is off to a great start. Get involved! We hold Chapter meetings every two months and it’s important to know that these are not just Director meetings. They’re Membership meetings and that means you! We conduct the Chapter’s business but also each meeting has reports from all of our great committees (which you’re invited to join), discussion of current legislative workings and CalRecycle rulemaking from our Legislative Task Force, and each meeting includes a facility tour or special, topical presentation.
Rounding out 2024 we had spectacular tours. First to Marin Sanitary, seeing their digester and Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Always the innovator, Marin Recycling will carry on Joe Garbarino’s legacy. In November, Yolo County hosted our tour: landfill and LFG, composting and digesters, Construction & Demolition (C&D) MRF, Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and extensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) multipurpose recycling area, and of course the Big Blue Barn reuse center. It’s great to see the cutting edge of material management.
The Gold Rush Chapter also reformed our scholarship program this past year to align with the SWANA International organization’s timeframes and parameters. It was coupled with a concerted effort to reach out to universities in California with programs that will cultivate the next generation of leaders in our industry. We want the best and brightest talent to find the material management industry attractive. Know any young people looking for a career with meaning? Tell them about SWANA!
Lastly, it was bittersweet to say farewell to our longtime Treasurer Mandip Dhillon, who was presented with a professional opportunity he simply couldn’t refuse. Mandip set the bar extremely high and put GRC on solid footing. Fortunately, Wes Heathcock, Director since 2019 and City Manager for the Town of Loomis has stepped up to fill his shoes. He brings the skillset and demeanor to continue the Gold Rush Chapter’s commitment to sound financial management.
In store for 2025, we’ll visit ReThink Waste’s newly renovated Shoreway Environmental Center in San Carlos, Sacramento County’s owned and operated Kiefer Landfill, and Western Placer Waste Management Authority’s new facility enhancements in Lincoln. We’ll also have our annual legislative and regulatory report from SWANA’s California legislative representative in March coupled with a presentation and conversation with representatives of the Foodservice Packaging Institute regarding Senate Bill 54. This type of conversation between industries who each face regulatory change happens because SWANA is there to represent those who make the material management industry work. That’s you.
Our next big task as a Chapter is to plan Western Regional Symposium 2026. It’ll be the best WRS ever! Mark your calendars for April 19-23 in Sonoma. We’re already working on the theme and program. We look forward to you joining the Sierra Chapter for WRS 2025 from April 7-10 in Yosemite. See you there!
Dave Ghirardelli
SWANA Gold Rush Chapter President
New Legislative Proposals Surface in California
By Nate Pelczar
California lawmakers will soon consider several bills that heavily impact public health, environmental safety, and disposal issues related to products that are fast becoming cost-prohibitive to process. Among the proposed bills is a ban on single-use vapes, a move designed to curb the quantity of vaping devices sent to landfills and recycling facilities. The bill is one of three related to vapes, likely introduced by three different authors, that address different handling issues, in addition to the growing costs associated with proper disposal.
Other key bills target pyrotechnic marine flares, solar panel disposal, household hazardous waste (HHW), and carpet waste. A proposed ban on single-use marine flares seeks to reduce hazardous waste from expired distress flares, encouraging a shift toward safer, electronic alternatives. Additionally, two separate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs, one for HHW and one for solar panels, aim to hold manufacturers accountable for end-of-life recycling, preventing hazardous materials from entering landfills, and increasing reuse.
These proposals reflect California’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, consumer safety, and shifting costs associated with disposal to those who create the products. If passed, these bills could set new standards for waste management, potentially influencing similar policies across the nation and beyond. Opposition from industry groups and concerns over economic impacts could present hurdles to these bills. However, California continues to position itself at the forefront of progressive regulatory efforts aimed at protecting our shared environment, residents, and their pocketbooks. Each of these bills are in various stages of drafting, solidifying authorship, and obtaining bill numbers.
Membership Benefits
By Chris Hiller
2025 is a year of growth for our local chapter and we are excited to provide new and existing members with the following promotional materials:
- Student Membership Benefits Flyer: Highlighted on one page to easily distribute and disseminate.
- Local Chapter Membership Benefits Flyer: Highlighted on one page for professionals and organizations.
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Annual Benefits Package: Quantifies the value of our local chapter to help professionals and organizations justify the expense.
Keep an eye out for these promotional materials and we hope you will help us distribute them to your contacts.
Young Professionals Meet-Ups
By Maddie Julian
Join the SWANA Gold Rush Chapter Young Professionals and Help Shape the Future of Our Industry!
The SWANA Gold Rush Chapter (GRC) Young Professionals (YP) Committee is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in the solid waste and recycling industry. Our mission is to create opportunities for networking, mentorship, and collaboration while spotlighting young professionals and encouraging new talent to join this vital field.
We’re kicking off 2025 with our first YP Virtual Meeting via Google Meet, and we’d love for you to join us! This is your chance to connect, share ideas, and help us build a strong, vibrant community.
YP Meeting Details and Agenda
Date: Thursday, March 27th
Time: 12PM - 1PM
Agenda Highlights:
- Welcome and Introductions – Meet your peers and learn about SWANA Gold Rush Chapter.
- SWANA 101 – Understand the organization’s structure and its impact on the industry.
- YP Membership Benefits – Explore how being a YP supports your professional growth.
- Upcoming Events – Get a sneak peek at the Western Regional Symposium and other key events.
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Open Forum – Share your ideas, ask questions, and connect with industry professionals.
Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting out, this meeting is for anyone passionate about advancing our industry and supporting the growth of young professionals.
RSVP at this Eventbrite link for reminders leading up to the event. Grab your lunch and bring a friend - We can’t wait to see you there!
Meet a GRC Board Member: Ruth Abbe
Interview Conducted by Rachel Davis
After graduating from college and as she was figuring out what she was going to do professionally, Ruth decided to volunteer to help City Councilwoman, Nancy Skinner, with a Styrofoam ban in the City of Berkeley. That led to work with ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) to help reduce chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and then the initiative that created StopWaste in Alameda County. From there it was clear that Ruth was headed towards a career in environmental advocacy and waste reduction. She began with Brown Vence & Associates (BVA) in 1990 and continued with the consulting firm HDR, after BVA was acquired. In 2014 she opened her own consulting firm, Abbe & Associates, and has continued to serve local jurisdiction clients with waste reduction planning and program implementation, many of whom she’s known and worked with for decades.
After talking to her for a short time, it was evident that Ruth loves working with clients to help solve problems. She simply radiates as she talks about her work. At the beginning of her career, she was assisting local government with Assembly Bill 939 implementation. Fast forward to 2025, Ruth is, among many other things, writing Zero Waste Plans for local jurisdictions and helping communities engage with stakeholders to change behaviors in the area of waste reduction and recycling. Her favorite part of the work is the stakeholder and community engagement. Her work doing community based social marketing provides members of a community the opportunity to share their experiences, both identifying barriers and providing ideas on how to create successful waste reduction and recycling outcomes.
Ruth believes deeply in the value of working at the local level to create the change you want to see in the world. The work she does professionally transitions seamlessly into volunteerism, including for Zero Waste USA, https://zerowasteusa.org/,where she serves as president, and Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA),https://casa-alameda.org/. Her volunteer work includes beach clean ups, working with schools and students on recycling and composting programs, and working with faith-based organizations, supporting them in efforts to grow as environmental stewards. She has observed that for change to be lasting, it needs to be supported at the top of an organization, and to support those at the implementation level with tools and training.
The SWANA Gold Rush Chapter has been lucky enough to have Ruth as a SWANA member since 2006 and a SWANA board member since 2007. She’s the co-chair of the Programs Committee and is working on some exciting events coming up, so stay tuned! Please introduce yourself to her at the next event and ask her about what she’s been up to.
The Gold Rush Recap
By Kimberly Cook and Will Rice
The Zero Food Waste Forum Webinar was held Friday, September 6th, and was a great success! The Gold Rush Chapter is a co-sponsor of the Zero Food Waste Forum webinars (presented with the Northern California Recycling Association). These quarterly webinars focus on issues related to implementation of the food recovery requirements of Senate Bill 1383. See the link to recordings of past webinars and look for upcoming webinars on our Gold Rush Chapter calendar. To get involved in planning future webinars, contact Ruth Abbe, Workshop & Program Committee chair at [email protected]
Future Happenings
Upcoming Board Meetings
(All are welcome)
March 28, 2025
Time: 10am-2:00pm
County of Sacramento Department of Waste Management and Recycling
10863 Gold Center Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
May 16, 2025
Time: 10am-2:00pm
ReThink Waste (South Bayside Waste Management Authority)
1245 San Carlos Ave, Suite E, San Carlos, CA 94070
*Tour of ReThink Waste’s newly renovated Shoreway Environmental Center will follow Board Meeting
2025 Western Regional Symposium
April 7th-10th, 2025
Tenaya Lodge, Yosemite
Click here for more information and to register
Don’t miss out on upcoming Gold Rush Chapter events and Board meetings!
Connect with the Classifieds
By Dave Ghirardelli
One of the best things about SWANA membership in the Gold Rush Chapter is connection. Members across northern California are doing so many interesting and innovative projects. Those projects are often professional opportunities for staff recruitment, finding professional teams through RFP/Qs, and identifying projects out there that your team has the right skillset for.
The GRC’s Classifieds Page can foster better connection across the region. Basic postings such as job announcements are free for members. Want to go a little more in-depth with RFPs and RFQs? Enhanced listings are reasonably priced from $250 to $500 and our Communications Committee Team can help you get your narratives and links highlighted on our website within the timeframes you need.
We hope you’ll use the Gold Rush Chapter classifieds! The more participants and contributors, the better the quality of this resource will be. For more information about taking advantage of the Chapter classifieds page, email [email protected].
GRC Sponsorship Opportunities
By Dave Ghirardelli
The SWANA Gold Rush Chapter holds six bimonthly meetings throughout the year, covering our large geographic area from Monterey north to the Oregon border. These are not exclusively Board of Directors’ meetings; Chapter members (you!) are encouraged to attend We conduct Chapter business, share information about workshops and trainings, discuss legislative and regulatory affairs, yet most importantly network with other industry leaders.
We also couple these Chapter meetings with facility tours at every opportunity: landfills and LFG systems, MRFs, composters and digesters…The latest and greatest hits that northern California has to offer. Hosts and sponsors strut their stuff to an audience of industry leaders like you.
Do you want to show off what you’ve been building at your business or jurisdiction? Do you want to highlight your company’s or agency’s profile? Consider hosting and/or sponsoring a Gold Rush Chapter meeting! Hosting entails arranging and conducting a tour. Sponsoring entails underwriting the costs of the meeting, mostly catering. You can do either or both. Your support is appreciated and will be recognized. For more information about reserving a spot on the calendar of Gold Rush Chapter meetings, email [email protected].
Know someone interested in becoming a member?
