For聽nearly five聽decades, Marc Rogoff has dedicated his career to advancing the waste and resource management profession,聽and in 2025, that commitment was recognized with SWANA鈥檚 highest honor: the Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award.
A Career聽in聽Public Service聽
Marc serves as a聽senior聽consultant at Geosyntec Consultants and continues to work聽part-time聽after more than 47 years. He lives and works in Tampa, Florida, having moved there in 1981 after beginning his career in solid waste management in Hillsborough County, Florida, where he held roles including聽resource聽recovery聽program聽administrator and聽acting聽solid聽waste聽director.
Over the decades that followed, Marc built a career that bridged both public and private sectors,聽working on everything from collection rate studies and waste composition programs to feasibility studies for new facilities and waste鈥憈o鈥慹nergy projects. His work took him across聽nearly every聽U.S. state and more than 40 countries.
Guided by Data and Curiosity聽
Asked what guides his decision鈥憁aking, Marc emphasized the importance of gathering new and historical data聽while setting timelines to move decisions forward. He encourages professionals to listen more than they speak, understand roles firsthand, and remain transparent.
One of the most consistent themes throughout Marc鈥檚 career has been a commitment to communication and education.聽Early on, he pledged to write and publish regularly鈥攁 promise that resulted in more than 300 articles and four books.聽That dedication has helped translate complex technical issues into practical knowledge that benefits practitioners across the industry.
Marc鈥檚 advice for those entering聽or growing within聽the profession is straightforward and timeless: stay curious, learn how to communicate clearly, and keep learning.
The Garbage Doctor
Outside of his professional achievements, Marc is known for his sense of humor (including longtime 鈥淕arbage Doctor鈥� monikers), his love of great ice cream, and his appreciation for music that boosts his mood.
You can also hear more from Marc in his episode of聽.
SWANA is proud to honor Marc Rogoff with the 2025 Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award and celebrate聽his聽lasting.聽View the聽.