SWANA and Glad partner on fund for solid waste and recycling workers affected by COVID-19

Glad and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) have partnered on an unprecedented effort to assist front-line collection workers adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A new Sanitation Workers Support Fund (Fund) established by Glad and SWANA will provide financial assistance to front-line solid waste and recycling collection workers in the United States and Canada adversely impacted by COVID-19. Glad has generously provided $200,000 to the Fund, to be administered and distributed by SWANA.

Front-line solid waste and recycling collection workers will potentially qualify for assistance if they: (1) have tested positive for COVID-19; (2) were laid off because of COVID-19 and continue to be unemployed; or (3) if an immediate family member was a front-line solid waste or recycling collection worker and passed away as a result of the coronavirus. Individuals directly impacted by COVID-19 by testing positive for the coronavirus or who lost their job due to the coronavirus and are currently unemployed can receive US $500. Immediate family members (spouse or minor children) of a solid waste and recycling collection worker who died due to COVID-19 can receive US $2,500. 

"SWANA is very pleased to be collaborating with Glad to provide money to front-line collection workers and their families who have been adversely affected by the coronavirus," said David Biderman, SWANA CEO and Executive Director. "We're very proud that Glad chose SWANA as its trusted partner in this important, timely, and generous effort. We expect to distribute needed financial assistance to hundreds of sanitation workers throughout the United States and Canada, at a time when they really need it most."

"Glad is proud to support front-line collection workers through this partnership with SWANA and the Sanitation Workers Support Fund," said Eric Schwartz, General Manager of Glad. "These men and women are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, working to keep us all safe, and are too often underappreciated during this time. Through this Fund, we're honored to support those workers and their families, who have been negatively impacted by this pandemic." 

SWANA will begin accepting applications to the Fund on May 1, 2020. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the fund is depleted. According to published reports, hundreds of solid waste collection workers in the United States and Canada will be eligible for the fund. There will be a limit on the number of applications approved from any specific state, province, or country, to ensure funds are distributed in an equitable manner across different locations. SWANA membership is not required to be accepted as a recipient.

More information and applications for the Sanitation Workers Support Fund are available at www.swana.org.