DSWA and ISWA – A Legacy of Innovation and Global Collaboration
Fifty years ago, Delaware faced a growing challenge: how to protect its environment while managing the rising tide of waste. The answer became the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA), created in 1975 with a mission to define, develop, and implement cost-effective solid waste management programs that serve Delawareans and protect public health and the environment.
Richard P. Watson, P.E., BCEE
CEO
I am Richard P. Watson, P.E., BCEE. I joined DSWA in 1981 as a project engineer and advanced to CEO in 2014, under the leadership and encouragement of DSWA’s first CEO, N.C. Vasuki, P.E., BCEE, I became active in professional organisations, including the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), where I have served on the Landfill Working Group since the early 1990s.
NCV initiated our partnership with ISWA members in 1984. His recollection not only explains how DSWA came to be but also tells the story of the environmental battles that shaped Delaware’s waste management history and connected us to the global community of waste professionals.
Recollections of N.C. Vasuki
Beginnings and the Delaware Reclamation Plant
In 1982, DSWA opened the Delaware Reclamation Plant (DRP), then the largest Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in North America. It processed 1,000 tons of municipal solid waste daily and was the first to recover aluminium, other non-ferrous metals, high-purity glass cullet using froth flotation, and various steel products. DRP also composted organics with sewage sludge, produced Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), and was operated by Raytheon Service Company under a risk-sharing contract.
Early International Connections
In 1984, DSWA welcomed a delegation from RVF of Sweden, a leading ISWA member. Recognizing ISWA’s value for assessing global waste technologies, DSWA became more engaged. In 1986, I attended ISWA’s annual meeting in Toronto with Lanny Hickman of the Governmental Refuse Collection and Disposal Association (GRCDA), setting the stage for U.S. and Canadian representation.
Leadership and Growth of ISWA
ISWA was Eurocentric at the time. Hickman and John Ferguson of the UK’s Institute of Waste Management restructured it into a truly global organisation with specialized working groups. I chaired the landfill technology group, later served on the Science and Technology Committee, and eventually became ISWA Vice President and President (2004–2006).
During my presidency, discussions led to relocating ISWA headquarters from Copenhagen to Vienna, reflecting its worldwide scope.
DSWA’s Innovative Model
From its inception, DSWA was self-sustaining, with no state or local tax funding, and was financed through user fees and municipal bonds. We pioneered Modern Engineered Landfills (MEL) before U.S. EPA standards existed, openly advertised for landfill sites to reduce political influence, and successfully located two MELs and three transfer stations.
We launched the first statewide electronics recycling program in the U.S. (2000), modeled after Malmo, Sweden; introduced the “GORE COVER” composting system now used widely in North America; and supported a Waste-to-Energy plant in Wilmington, later repurposed for processing construction and demolition waste.
Continuing Collaboration
ISWA connections brought international professionals to Delaware, allowing DSWA leaders to visit facilities in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania and gain valuable technological and financial insights.
— N.C. Vasuki, P.E., BCEE, First CEO of the Delaware Solid Waste Authority
Looking Forward – Richard P. Watson’s Perspective
Five decades later, DSWA remains committed to innovation, collaboration, and protecting Delaware’s environment. In response to a few ISWA questions, I offer the following :
In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues in the waste sector that should be addressed today ?
The most pressing issue today is shifting more of the waste management burden to producers. Products should be designed for reuse and easy recycling, and overall material consumption must be reduced.
What are the trends in waste management that excite you the most?
Technology, especially robotics and AI. Both are being employed in recovering reusable and recyclable materials in an exceedingly more accurate and efficient manner. They reduce the need for tedious, sometimes unsafe manual retrieval of valuable materials.
What role do you see ISWA play in driving sustainable practices globally?
I see ISWA as the leading international organisation to bring all stakeholders together to promote sustainable practices globally. We can advocate for global treaties, policies and also projects to assist and educate the public for practical solutions. Closing dump sites is one great example.
How can ISWA members collaborate more effectively to address shared challenges?
I believe the best, effective way is to visit each other’s waste management facilities and exchange information about how they were set up, how they operate, how successful they are, but also to explain what does not work and why. Learning how to be successful from others directly is very helpful to plan, design, construct and operate new facilities.
ISWA has an active Young Professionals Group as a special task force, what would be your advice to them looking to make a difference in the waste sector?
I would recommend learning about all the different issues that ISWA is addressing and selecting one that you individually, or as a group, have a real passion for. Then research it, including visiting sites to see firsthand the problem to be addressed. With the help of mentors, develop a plan that the local people can participate in. The success will be greatly dependent upon the local people being able to improve their lives.
