IMPACT OF CHANGES IN THE SOLID WASTE INDUSTRY
CONFERENCE SEPT. 17 IN NEW BRUNSWICK

The New Jersey Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management will hold a conference on the impacts of consolidation of the solid waste industry on Friday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cook College Campus Center in New Brunswick.

The conference will include a panel discussion from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a public meeting at 1 p.m. There is no charge for the conference which has received more than 120 registrations to date. Expected attendees include local and county officials, solid waste and recycling coordinators, waste haulers and other industry representatives.

The New Jersey Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management, established by the Solid Waste Management Act, is comprised of members from the public, industry and medical community. Council members are appointed by the Governor with consent by the Senate. The council's role is to advise the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner on issues related to solid waste management.

The advisory council chooses one topic annually for a detailed examination and review. The council believes the solid waste consolidation topic is particularly relevant due to the trend toward fewer independent operators in the waste collection and disposal industry and the potential impact on competition in the waste disposal marketplace. The panel will discuss the implications of the consolidation from the public and private sector perspectives. The advisory council will prepare a report with recommendations to DEP Commissioner Bob Shinn regarding this issue.

Conference participants include: John Castner, director of DEP's Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste and Frank Coolick, assistant director; Edward DeHope, partner in the law firm of Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti; Steven Changaris, regional manager of the National Solid Waste Management Association; James Lambert, director of the Mercer County Improvement Authority, representing the Solid Waste Association of North America; Robert Prunetti, Mercer County Executive, representing the New Jersey Association of Counties, and Dennis Enright, principal in the NW Financial Group. Advisory council members: Public representatives: Donald Bryan, Esq., Chairman; George Koehler; Peter deWilde; Steven Wymbs. Industry representatives: Thomas Blanchet; George Farrand; George P. Luciano, Jr. (I.S.R.I); Paul Matacera. Licensed Medical Practitioner: Dr. Stanley R. Lane. Ex officio member designees: Robert Chilton, Board of Public Utilities; Karen M. Kritz, Department of Agriculture; Howard Izes, Department of Community Affairs; Ronald Ulinsky, Department of Health and Senior Services.