About
Providing Expert Guidance Since 2001
Collaborative Consulting
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We closely collaborate with our clients to understand their specific needs and goals.
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Working directly for HHW program sponsors provides direct access and best project results.
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We typically assemble teams of specialists to provide best-in-class expertise to address each project and task with a highly-skilled and experienced team.
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In addition to the expertise provided by SWA's Principal, David Nightingale, collaborative team members often include experts in HHW facility operations, project cost estimating, and also regulatory compliance by collaborating with state and local regulatory and building officials.
Collaborative team members we work with nationally include Sweetser & Associates, Apex Consulting, as well local and national design firms and other specialty consultants.
Certified Energy Manager (CEM®)
David Nightingale, CHMM, S.C., C.E.M.
In addition to my work for clients across North America, I've been a guest speaker at regional and national conferences, provided training on facility operations and design, and published the most comprehensive book on HHW Collection Facility Design.
My book, HHW Collection Facility Design Guide, Charting Your Path through the Hazardous Waste Facility Design Process, sets the standard for addressing the unusual and complex HHW collection facility design process.
I co-authored a chapter regarding HHW collection facilities in the Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste, 2nd Edition, edited by Amy Cabaniss, Bernan Press, 2018. I'm also the co-author of Chapter 10, Household Hazardous Wastes, in McGraw-Hill's Handbook of Solid Waste Management, 2nd Edition, Tchobanoglous and Kreith, Editors.
From January 2020 through June 2022 I wrote the monthly column "HHW Corner" for Waste Advantage Magazine. The first six issues focused on important features commonly missed during the HHW facility design process. Later issues included articles on performance metrics, energy savings, staffing levels, policy issues, extended producer responsibility, sustainability, equity, case studies, and interviews with HHW luminaries. At the end of 2022 I compiled all 30 articles in the Chronicle of The HHW Corner, now available in a softbound book here. This new publication is a key companion to the HHW Facility Design Guide.
With degrees in business and engineering, I worked for a number of national engineering consulting firms and the Washington State Dept. of Ecology before establishing Special Waste Associates in 2001.
I have participated with the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) for many years and am one of nine SWANA Certified (S.C.) Faculty for the HHW and CESQG Collection Operations training course.
I am a former Director of SWANA's Special Waste Technical Management Division and was awarded SWANA's Distinguished Service Award.
I am again serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA). I am contributing to NAHMMA's national training and policy committees. I received the Hometown Hero Award in 2001, the President's Award in 2006 and 2007 for Special Service to NAHMMA, and the Outstanding Member Contribution Award in 2008.
With NAHMMA I co-authored and continue to serve as one of the lead instructors for the 24-Hr. Hazwoper course for HHW/VSQG operations. This course is offered by NAHMMA and SWANA with the 3rd Edition published in 2022.
I assisted SWANA in establishing the national HHW/VSQG operations certification exam which is jointly recognized by both SWANA and NAHMMA.
I continue to collaborate with and perform research with leading professionals in the field. I am frequently invited to speak, provide training, webinars, design workshops, and publish to advance the practice of the profession.
