SWANA’s Event Code of Conduct

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is an organization of more than 10,000 public and private sector professionals committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through their shared emphasis on education, advocacy and research.

SWANA is committed to providing an environment that encourages the free expression and exchange of technical and professional ideas and promotes equal opportunities and respectful treatment for all participants. All participants are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, follow venue rules, and alert SWANA staff or security of any dangerous situations or anyone in distress. This Code of Conduct applies to all SWANA event-related functions, including those sponsored by organizations other than SWANA but held in conjunction with SWANA events. It also applies to virtual events hosted by or on behalf of SWANA.

SWANA prohibits and will not tolerate any form of harassment or bullying at its events. Harassment is unwanted and unwelcome attention or other conduct that creates an environment where a reasonable person would feel unwelcome, intimidated, excluded, or abused. Harassment based on gender, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, disability, occupation, political affiliation, and any other personal characteristic is strictly prohibited. Bullying is defined as the activity of aggressive behavior intended to hurt another individual, physically, mentally, or emotionally.

SWANA also prohibits misconduct at its events. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, or other meeting guest, or disruption of presentations during sessions, in the exhibit hall, or at other events organized by SWANA. All participants must comply with the instructions of the moderator and any SWANA staff or event staff.

In addition, participants are asked to adhere to the following rules:

• The recording or transmission of any keynote, education session, presentation, demo, video, or content in any format is strictly prohibited unless SWANA issues written permission in advance specifically for the requested content.
• Participants should not in any way disrupt presentations during sessions, in the exhibit area, or at other events organized by SWANA. All participants must comply with the instructions of SWANA event staff.

Violation of this code of conduct may result in the person committing the violation being asked to leave the event at which the incident occurred, without warning or refund; being barred from attending SWANA events in the future; and, if relevant, being barred from or revocation of membership in SWANA. Event security and local police may be contacted in the event violators pose an imminent threat to others or are disrupting the event. If a SWANA staff member is found to be in violation, applicable SWANA employment policies will be followed. Action regarding a SWANA staff member may result in termination of employment.

This policy applies to all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, contractors, volunteers, and guests at SWANA sponsored events. Anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment or misconduct should contact SWANA staff (SWANA staff are identifiable by their SWANA staff name badge) as soon as possible or, if they feel unsafe, contact security. For each event it hosts, SWANA will publish the phone number and an email to which complaints may be submitted. All complaints will be responded to promptly and treated seriously and, to the extent possible, confidentially. Complaints that require broader investigation will be directed to the Policy Committee Compliance Review Group for assignment to an ad hoc investigatory committee. SWANA expressly forbids any retaliation against individuals for reporting harassment or misconduct. Sanctions consistent with those found in SWANA’s Whistleblower Policy may also be applied against any individual who knowingly provides false information regarding a harassment or misconduct situation.

Approved by the SWANA Board of Directors on the 26^th day of June 2023.