2026 AZ SWANA General Membership Meeting Recap
Friday, June 26, 2026 | Mesa, Arizona
Arizona SWANA members gathered in Mesa on June 26 for the General Membership Meeting focused on one of the most important operational topics facing the industry today: heat safety and workforce protection. The morning combined chapter business updates with practical training and real-world discussion on recognizing heat-related illness, reducing risk exposure, and strengthening safety practices across Arizona communities.
Thank you to our event sponsors for supporting the meeting and helping make the event possible: Waste Connections of Arizona, Sierra Container Group, and Reframe Waste.
Welcome & Safety Leadership
The meeting opened with remarks from Elizabeth Roe, SWANA Board President, and Carlos De La Torre, AZ SWANA President, who welcomed attendees and reinforced the importance of maintaining a strong safety culture across the solid waste industry.
Elizabeth’s presentation, Shining a Light on Safety, highlighted SWANA’s continued commitment to protecting workers through national advocacy, partnerships, and education initiatives. Topics included collaboration with OSHA and the National Waste & Recycling Association, battery safety efforts, multilingual safety resources, recognition programs, and industry-wide initiatives designed to strengthen workplace safety practices. Her message centered on a simple but important reminder: safety is not optional—it is foundational to operational success.
Financial Report
Brittany Aldrich, Treasurer, provided the chapter finance report to the members.
Legislative Update
Dave Bennett, Legislative Liaison, delivered a legislative briefing covering developments that could impact solid waste operations across Arizona.
Highlights included updates related to House Bill 2986 and discussion surrounding Maricopa County’s planned transition away from operating transfer stations beginning January 1, 2027. Members also learned about the county’s stakeholder engagement process and upcoming milestones that may shape future ownership and operational models for these facilities.
August 13, 2026: Next Stakeholder Workshop
December 9, 2026: Tentative Board of Supervisors public hearing
The June 18 Stakeholder Workshop presentation is available in the linked PowerPoint.
Board Appointment
During chapter business, members recognized the appointment of Pat Tapia to the board, supporting continued leadership and representation within the Arizona chapter.
Risk Management: Building a Heat Safety Culture
Karri Knight, City of Scottsdale, delivered one of the meeting’s central presentations focused on heat risk management and organizational preparedness.
Karri shared Scottsdale’s approach to protecting employees who work in high-temperature environments and emphasized that heat safety extends beyond compliance—it is a workforce and operational resilience issue.
Key takeaways included:
Establishing written Heat Illness Prevention Plans
Expanding employee and supervisor training
Creating access to cool-down and shaded environments
Prioritizing hydration and electrolyte availability
Reviewing PPE and uniform adjustments to improve comfort and protection
Supporting acclimatization practices for new and returning employees
Attendees also gained insight into Arizona’s evolving workplace heat guidance and the increasing expectations around heat preparedness.
Heat Illness Awareness: Recognition and Response
Sarah Hilland, City of Scottsdale, followed with a practical and highly applicable session focused on recognizing and responding to heat-related illness.
Her presentation reinforced the realities of Arizona working conditions and outlined the progression from heat cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Key reminders included:
Heat injuries can escalate quickly and become life-threatening
Recognizing symptoms early improves outcomes
Hydration should begin before shifts and continue throughout the workday
Rest breaks and acclimatization remain essential prevention tools
Workers should use cooling strategies and PPE appropriate for extreme temperatures
Panel Discussion: Actions in Place and Heat Mitigation
The meeting concluded with a panel discussion featuring:
Panelists shared how what they do in their operations to reduce heat-related risks and improve employee safety.
Looking Ahead
The meeting closed with chapter announcements, including upcoming scholarship opportunities, and the 2026 Chapter Awards nomination process.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a productive conversation centered on heat safety, and continuous improvement across Arizona’s solid waste community.
We look forward to seeing members at the Annual Membership Meeting on September 25, 2026, at the Caterpillar Proving Ground in Green Valley, focused on landfill operations and upcoming chapter elections.