Floods, fires, derailments, tornadoes, and hurricanes cause debris. There is a lot of focus on disaster preparation, but what happens after the disaster? Disaster debris can overwhelm solid waste systems and create unsafe situations. Safe and efficient cleanup is a vital step after weather events and, with more extreme weather events predicted due to climate change, there are even more disasters. Solid waste and emergency management personnel need to plan for debris management in order to keep our communities safe and functional. 

After attending this session, participants will be able to:  

• Appreciate the urgency of pre-disaster planning. 

• Reorganize the waste removal, processing, and disposal procedures that differ from everyday situations. 

• Integrate solid waste personnel into an incident command structure to prepare for various disaster events.