In memoriam: Bruce Parker

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), Arlington, Virginia, has announced that Bruce Parker has died. For more than 30 years, Parker helped to guide the Environmental Industry Associations, which included the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC), having served as CEO for 16 years. Parker retired two years before the Environmental Industry Associations and its subassociations merged, becoming the NWRA in 2014.

“The waste and recycling industry has lost a respected leader in Bruce Parker,” NWRA Chairman Don Ross says. “His commitment to strong industry advocacy, collaboration and environmental stewardship helped shape our industry and set a lasting standard for leadership.”

“He brought not only deep expertise but a remarkable ability to bring people together,” NWRA says in an email to its membership remembering Parker’s contributions. “He united service providers, suppliers and partners around a shared purpose. Through his leadership, Bruce advanced safe, responsible waste and recycling practices while strengthening the sense of community that defines our industry.”

Parker prioritized safety, the association says, supporting the development of nationally recognized programs designed to prevent workplace injuries and fatalities, making safety a core value across the industry.

Within the association, Parker fostered a culture of service and collaboration and offered calm and thoughtful leadership, NWRA says, having led the association through important moments, such as the divestiture of WasteExpo and related media assets, ensuring the association remained connected to the industry’s flagship event. Through ongoing educational programming and the Awards Breakfast, Parker preserved the association’s voice, visibility and value, NWRA says.

Parker also is credited with strengthening the industry’s advocacy at every level of government and with championing public education efforts that helped communities better understand the essential role of waste and recycling professionals. That effort included supporting “Environmentalists. Every Day.” an initiative reinforcing the industry’s role as a steward of the environment and community well-being.

In addition to his work on behalf of the industry, Parker is remembered for his character, which included quiet and sincere encouragement and recognition of hard work. He believed in honoring service and preserving the stories of those who built this industry, NWRA says, with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012 reflecting the lasting impact of that belief.

“Bruce was a tireless advocate for the waste and recycling industry and for ensuring the men and women of the industry were recognized for the dedicated work they do,” say Ben and Ellen Harvey of Massachusetts-based E.L. Harvey, a Waste Connections company. “It was a privilege to work with Bruce to help tell the industry’s story and highlight the important role waste and recycling play in society.”

“Bruce Parker was a steady and principled leader whose influence shaped not only this association but the broader waste and recycling industry,” NWRA President and CEO Michael E. Hoffman adds. “He understood that strong institutions are built on trust, collaboration and respect for the people who do the work every day. Bruce led with humility, foresight and an unwavering commitment to service, safety and community.”

In honor of his contributions, NWRA says it is recommitting to the principles and practical, forward-thinking work that defined Parker’s legacy: safety, advocacy and engagement.

A memorial service will be held Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at Pumphrey’s Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, Maryland.

In place of flowers, Parker’s family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.