Ashlea Smith Sabeti’s Post

For this #Mondayhype, I want to send a "thank you" to Mariia Liubarskaia, Solid Waste Division Chief, and her team at Calvert County Government for hosting The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)'s Mid-Atlantic Chapter and providing a tour of their #Recycling Center located at the Appeal #Landfill last week. This center tops the charts on several levels: it offers robust #disposal and recycling options, it is incredibly well #organized and #maintained, and any observer can tell that resident #accessibility and #convenience were at the top of the designers' minds when laying out the #facility. When resident drop-off is the primary way that waste disposal and recycling collection are managed in an area, the drop-off or convenience centers should make it as easy and appealing as possible. Besides, visiting the drop-off center may be a weekly, if not daily, trip for many residents; they can experience their government's investment in their quality of life through these often-overlooked public infrastructure sites. My favorite quote from the tour was said by a supervisor with the department when he said, "We accept trash but that doesn't mean we have to look like it," which is the truth. I have visited dozens of convenience centers as a #solidwastemanagement consultant, and this one is a must-see if you intend to revamp the ones in your community. The County is even commissioning a #mural to aid in the waste facility's beautification. Among other best management practices, these can be put into practice elsewhere. If you ever find yourself in #SouthernMaryland, make a point to stop and visit the center. On that summery fall afternoon last week, a photographer with Calvert County's Communication office took a nice photo of our tour group. It was great to see again or meet my fellow industry colleagues in the area, including Mark Gutberlet, Michelle G. Minstrell, Dana Blumberg, Don Birnesser, P.E., and David Traub, among others.