The Skills Conversion Project conducted by the National Society of Professional Engineers sought to study the transition mechanisms required to transfer available technical manpower from aerospace and defense industries into other areas of employment in private industry and public service. Fourteen study teams assessed the likelihood of future needs and utilization of technical professional manpower. Chapter 13 contains reports by research teams based in Huntsville, Alabama; Orange County, California; and Wichita, Kansas. During the period of October 1971 to February, 1972 they studied employment opportunities for engineering and scientific aerospace/defense professionals in the field of solid waste management. To better reflect the differences of emphasis and regional differences, each team report constitutes a separate section of the chapter. Details of the studies, including data summaries, recommendations, references, and contacts are enumerated. Although widespread needs for the kind of skills and disciplines possessed by aerospace/defense professionals were discovered, it was found that employment opportunities are limited pending the establishment of firm uniform standards. Companies are reluctant to make large capital expenditures without such standards. (BL)