Chapman named Solid Waste and Public Works Director – Herald-Citizen.com

Report on Public Works Leadership Appointment in DeKalb County

Executive Summary

A leadership transition has occurred within the DeKalb County Solid Waste and Public Works department. This report details the appointment of a new director and analyzes the role’s direct alignment with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning waste management and sustainable communities.

• Position: Solid Waste and Public Works Director
• Appointee: Chris Chapman
• Predecessor: Brian Reed
• Appointing Official: County Mayor Matt Adcock

Appointee Profile

Chris Chapman has been named the new director, bringing a background relevant to the operational needs of the department.

• Professional Experience: Primarily a foreman in construction, with supplemental experience in concrete work and previous roles at the county transfer station and in waste management.
• Community Connection: A native of Liberty, with family integrated into the local community.
• Initial Reception: Mayor Adcock reported a positive and encouraging reception from departmental employees, noting a smooth transition.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The role of the Solid Waste and Public Works Director is integral to the county’s progress toward achieving several critical SDGs. The effective management of waste and public infrastructure is a cornerstone of sustainable local governance.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This appointment directly impacts the county’s ability to meet targets for creating sustainable and resilient communities.

1. Target 11.6: The director’s primary duty is to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of the county, with a specific focus on municipal waste management.
2. Infrastructure Management: Supervising the solid waste operation and transfer station is fundamental to ensuring a clean, healthy, and safe living environment for all residents.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The department’s operations are central to promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns within the community.

• Target 12.5: The new leadership is positioned to substantially reduce waste generation through the enhancement of prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse programs.
• Circular Economy: This role offers the opportunity to introduce and expand initiatives that support a circular economy, minimizing landfill dependence and maximizing resource value.

Broader SDG Contributions

The director’s responsibilities also contribute to other interconnected global goals.

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Proper waste management prevents the contamination of local water bodies, protecting both public health and aquatic ecosystems.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The department serves as a local employer and maintains the essential public infrastructure necessary to support sustained and inclusive economic growth.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By implementing modern waste management strategies, such as diverting organic waste from landfills, the director can help reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate action.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
     This goal is directly relevant as the article focuses on the appointment of a new Solid Waste and Public Works Director. The management of solid waste is a critical component of municipal services necessary for creating sustainable and healthy communities. The director’s primary duty, “supervising the solid waste operation and transfer station,” is central to the environmental health and sustainability of DeKalb County.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
     This goal is connected through the theme of waste management. Effective solid waste management, as overseen by the new director, is essential for achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns by promoting the reduction, recycling, and reuse of materials, thereby minimizing the overall generation of waste.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
     The article addresses this goal by highlighting a key employment position within the county’s public sector. The appointment of Chris Chapman as the Solid Waste and Public Works Director is an example of public sector employment that contributes to the local economy and the functioning of essential public services.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
     The article’s entire focus is on the leadership of the county’s waste management system. The new director’s role in “supervising the solid waste operation and transfer station” is precisely aimed at managing municipal waste, which directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
     The function of a Solid Waste Director inherently involves implementing strategies to manage and reduce waste. Although the article does not detail these strategies, the existence and leadership of this department are fundamental to achieving this target at the local level.
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…
     The appointment of Mr. Chapman to a director-level position represents the provision of productive employment. The article highlights the filling of a key public service job, which contributes to the target of maintaining employment within the community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • The article does not explicitly mention any quantitative indicators. However, the nature of the director’s responsibilities implies the use of specific metrics to measure performance and progress.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: The effectiveness of the “solid waste operation and transfer station” implies a need to measure the amount of waste being properly managed. This relates to the official indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal solid waste generated. The success of the new director would be measured by this metric for DeKalb County.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 12.5: The goal of reducing waste generation implies that the county would track recycling and waste reduction rates. This connects to the official indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled. The director’s performance would be evaluated based on improvements in the county’s recycling and waste diversion rates.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 8.5: The article’s focus on a specific job implies the importance of employment in the public works sector. While not a formal SDG indicator, a relevant local indicator would be the number of stable jobs maintained or created within the county’s Solid Waste and Public Works department.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Implied from the article)
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to … municipal and other waste management.	Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities (related to the management of the “solid waste operation and transfer station”).
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.	County recycling rate and total tons of material recycled as a result of the “waste management” operations.
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all.	Number of stable jobs maintained or created in the public works sector, as exemplified by the director’s appointment.

Source: herald-citizen.com