MEDIA ADVISORY: West Virginia Governor to Sign Law Protecting Sanitation Workers

WASHINGTON, August 1, 2014 /3BL Media/ - West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will ceremonially sign into law a measure cracking down on reckless driving around waste and recycling vehicles on Wednesday, Aug. 6 in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

The “Slow Down to Get Around Bill,” authored by State Sen. Donald Cookman (D-Hampshire) and endorsed by the National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA), requires West Virginia drivers to slow down to 15 miles per hour when passing a stopped sanitation truck.

The law was inspired by the tragic death of Berkeley County sanitation worker Jeremy Tabler, who was killed by a motorist while on the job. Road accidents caused by careless drivers around sanitation trucks are a major cause of fatalities to waste and recycling workers nationwide.

West Virginia joins Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin as states having enacted Slow Down to Get Around legislation.

Photographs will be made available to interested media that cannot attend the ceremony. Please contact Thom Metzger with interest.

WHAT:  Bill Signing Commemoration:  West Virginia’s Slow Down to Get Around Law

WHO:  Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, State Sen. Donald Cookman, family of late sanitation worker Jeremy Tabler, NW&RA representatives

WHEN:  Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

WHERE:  Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, 510 S. Raleigh St., Martinsburg, WV 25401

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The National Waste & Recycling Association is the trade association that represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that collect and manage garbage, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors and a variety of other service providers. For more information about how innovation in the environmental services industry is helping to solve today’s environmental challenges, visit www.beginwiththebin.org.