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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
STEPHEN JOHNSON, OPERATIONS MANAGER
SALINAS VALLEY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY
755-1300
SVSWA CELEBRATES 8TH ANNIVERSARY
February 15, 2005
The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA) is celebrating the eighth
anniversary of its formation.
The SVSWA continues to be an excellent model of regional cooperation in
the integrated waste management field. It operates as a public/private
partnership charged with reducing the amount of materials sent to the
landfill and providing sound sustainable environmental policies for the
future.
Through a network of citizens, public agencies, schools, non-profit organizations,
private consultants, waste haulers and environmentalists, the SVSWA strives
to accomplish its mission and has accepted the benefit and responsibility
of this leadership role for the past eight years.
In its eight years of existence, the SVSWA has proven a successful story
of pro-active solid waste planning and management. The agency’s
unique structure – including equitable jurisdiction representation,
fiscal stability, cutting-edge programs, partnership building and dedicated
staff – resulted in a list of success stories in 2004.
JUNE: Completed purchase of property for new Salinas
Transfer Station and Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility and
built and opened facility in six months.
JUNE: Completed negotiations for a new waste collection
contract for the South County cities of Gonzales, Greenfield and Soledad.
JUNE: Hosted a landfill tour at Crazy Horse Landfill
for the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA).
JULY: Successfully transitioned the Authority personnel
administration from the City of Salinas to a standalone agency.
AUGUST: All member cities achieved 50 percent diversion
rate.
OCTOBER: Completed the Lewis Road Landfill closure project.
NOVEMBER: Opened the new South County Household Hazardous
Waste Collection Facility at the Johnson Canyon Road Landfill in Gonzales.
DECEMBER: Doubled household hazardous waste customers
at the collection facilities since the year 2000.
Stephen Johnson, general manager for the Authority says, “The Authority
looks forward to an equally busy 2005. We would also like to thank the
community for their continued support of all our local waste reduction
programs as well as acknowledge all our partners without whom our efforts
would be without merit.”
The Authority, formed in 1997, is a joint powers agency made up of
the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, King City, Salinas, Soledad as well
as the eastern half of unincorporated Monterey County. They promote the
environmental health of the Salinas Valley through planning, public education
and management of an innovative solid waste system. The Authority can
be reached at 755-1300 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday or
on the web at www.svswa.org.
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