In December of 1961, Mr. Grant H. Flint, General Superintendent of Refuse Collection and Disposal for the City of Los Angeles, initiated a proposal for a luncheon meeting to explore the feasibility of forming an association so that proposed members could exchange ideas and share experiences unique to refuse collection and disposal.

By April of 1962, The Solid Waste Association of North America had begun. Officers had been elected, a constitution adopted, and the first general meeting was held.

As SWANA has grown to be an International Association, the Southern California Founding Chapter has remained an active contributor to the education, development and training of its members.