City Solid Waste manager wins national public works award
Richard Wieman was recognized by the American Public Works Assocation.
Published Sept. 14, 2010
Walking into Richard Wieman's office gives a great sense of who he is.
Hanging on one wall is a poster exclaiming in big white letters: Determination. As Columbia's Solid Waste Utility manager talks about how the city, as a whole, needs to get away from landfills as much as possible, a cowboy statue made of recycled metal parts sits in the corner.
Wieman has channeled his determination into improving Columbia's environmental program. He helped to get Missouri's first and only bioreactor landfill up and running in 2009. It's one of very few in the country, putting Missouri at the forefront of solid waste technology.
"He has a stellar track record," City Manager Bill Watkins said. "He's always looking for ways to provide better service at less cost."
This year, Wieman was rewarded for that effort. He was named Professional Manager of the Year-Solid Waste by the American Public Works Association.
"The selection of the award is done by a panel of judges appointed by the APWA president," APWA spokeswoman Laura Bynum said. "The panel is made up of professionals in the public works field and other agencies with an active interest in the public works profession."
Wieman said he is an advocate for reusable resources.
"We are a throwaway society," Wieman said. "We buy things designed to be discarded when broken or not wanted anymore. TVs and MP3 players can be recycled. Our mindset should change from disposable to long-term benefits to society. We must choose wisely."
During his 35 years with the department, Wieman has always tried to keep an open mind for improving Columbia.
"People have to expand their thinking about how to do things better," he said. "If there's a strong will you can make it happen."
But he said one man cannot change an industry on his own.
"The community is very supportive," Wieman said. "They are very receptive, and our administration is as well."
One might consider art and the environmental industry as drastically different fields, but Wieman said they are more similar than some might think.
"The artwork and the work are very much related," Wieman said, gesturing to one of his statues. "They involve an identical thought process of taking something that exists and improving on it and making it better."
Wieman described attending the American Public Works Association International Congress and Exposition as an once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"There were a lot of neat projects created by talented people," he said. "It was like winning an Academy Award. It was an honor to be recognized among all of those great people."
All in all, Wieman would just like to leave people thinking.
"People need to look within themselves and think outside the box," he said. "They need to think that maybe there is a better way. Maybe it is possible."