The National Solid Waste Management Association's “Environmentalists Every Day: America's Solid Waste Industry” program helps communities, public officials, and the media understand the importance of solid waste collection, disposal, and recycling to public health, environmental sustainability, and energy efficiency. In addition to a toolkit designed to help with community outreach efforts, a Web site provides information on industry efforts to transform household trash into renewable resources, and offers tips for consumers to be more responsible with their waste.

To support their parallel missions, the role of secretariat for The Infrastructure Security Partnership — a public-private partnership dedicated to improving infrastructure resilience — has been transferred from the American Society of Civil Engineers to the Society of American Military Engineers.

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration's Recommended Contract Practices for Underground Construction explains how to build the foundation for effective contracts during the early phases of a project as well as best practices for provisions, payment mechanisms, and dispute resolution.

Rain Bird Services Corp. is conducting training at 28 locations nationwide. Irrigation and landscape professionals earn a Continuing Education Unit from the Irrigation Association for each hour of class attended. Visit www.rainbird.com/training.

Wholesaler Seattle Public Utilities and 17 local utilities received the first “Promotional Partner of the Year” award under the EPA's WaterSense program, launched in 2006 to promote water efficiency. Formed in 2000, the utilities' Saving Water Partnership comprises at least three components.

A conservation initiative was created to reduce consumption by 1% every year for 10 years; and, although the population served by the Seattle Regional Water System has grown since the partnership began, water usage has declined.

A “Save With Every Flush” public service announcement and print advertisements in three non-English newspapers reached Seattle and King County consumers.

The “Great Flush-Off” media event in which Allan Dietemann, acting manager of Seattle Public Utilities Resource Conservation Section, and Benjamin Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water, participated. By flushing ping pong balls and potatoes, the event demonstrated the power of a Water-Sense-labeled toilet compared to traditional models.

Tree Campus USA, a new program by Tree City USA creator Arbor Day Foundation, helps cities and campus groups form cohesive community forestry programs and inspire residents and college students to care for trees. Visit www.arborday.org/treecampususa.

The National Roadside Vegetation Management Association recognizes Howard Peavey of the Alabama DOT; Roscoe Righter of Blue Springs, Mo.; Tsutomu Imamura of San Mateo County, Calif.; and Dr. Reid Smeda of the University of Missouri.

The Construction Management Association of America recognized George Lea Jr. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for applying emerging technologies and progressive approaches to recruiting and training efforts, and for promoting Construction Manager Certification to improve project and program outcomes.