EIA Releases H1N1 Fact Sheet

NSWMA and WASTEC Members Encouraged to Prepare/Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2009
Contact: Thom Metzger, 202-506-0511

(Washington, DC) – The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), other federal agencies, the medical community and others are concerned that an H1N1 (also known as swine flu) pandemic may occur later this year or in 2010. The Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) — through its sub-associations the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) — has encouraged member companies to prepare for a possible pandemic, which could result in a substantial number of sick workers and be disruptive to operations and contractual obligations.

NSWMA and WASTEC recently provided their member companies and their employees with a checklist containing guidance on preparing for and responding to a pandemic.

About this fact sheet, EIA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker stated, “Of course, we hope that the flu season ends without a catastrophic occurrence of flu; however, even as we hope for the best, we need to prepare for the worst. Every company will benefit from planning for this and other sorts of crises. Such preparation can help assure that a company can continue offering residents and businesses in the communities that they serve with essential waste collection and disposal services. The continuation of such services is vital, especially during a large pandemic, to protect human health and the environment.”

The fact sheet contains many helpful tips that can help prevent the spread of illness and help companies to prepare for potential supply chain and travel disruptions.

A copy of EIA’s H1N1 fact sheet may be found at:
http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/docs/H1N1-Fact-Sheet-Oct09.pdf

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EIA is the trade association that represents the private sector solid waste and recycling industry through its two sub-associations, NSWMA and WASTEC. NSWMA represents for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and waste disposal services, and companies that provide professional and consulting services to the waste services industry. WASTEC represents companies that design, build, distribute, service and consult with respect to the equipment and technology systems that are used to collect, contain, transport, store, process, recycle, treat and dispose of the world's solid wastes and recyclable materials.

For more information about how innovation in the solid waste industry is helping to solve today’s environmental challenges, visit http://www.everydayenvironmentalists.org.