Awards & Scholarships
Awards
Each year, SWANA distributes a variety of awards celebrating outstanding waste and resource management programs, facilities, and individuals. SWANA publicly recognizes:
- Advancing worker and community health and safety.
- Implementing successful education and outreach programs.
- Utilizing effective technologies and processes in system design and operation.
2026 Award Recipients to be Celebrated at RCon!
Nominations for 2026 SWANA Awards closed on July 6.
Award recipients will be celebrated at a special event on September 30, 7:00 p.m. CT at SWANA’s RCon™ 2026, held September 29 – October 2 in St. Louis, Missouri (Award Ceremony location TBD).
Award Categories
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
The SWANA Professional Achievement Awards Program recognizes contributions to the waste and resource management industry and public health and environmental protection.
- Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award
- Honorary Membership Award
- Life Member Award
- Professional Achievement Award for a Private Sector Member
- Professional Achievement Award for a Public Sector Member
Learn More About the Professional Achievement Awards »
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Young Professional of the Year Award formally acknowledges the hard work, performance, and dedication of three young professionals annually in the waste and resource management industry, encouraging the next generation.
Learn More About the Young Professional of the Year Award »
TECHNICAL DIVISION AWARDS
SWANA’s Technical Division Awards honor individuals and organizations whose work has advanced best practices, safety, sustainability, and technical excellence within SWANA’s Technical Divisions.
Learn More About the Technical Division Awards »
- Collection & Transfer Technical Division Award
- Communication, Education & Marketing Technical Division Awards
- Landfill Gas & Biogas Technical Division Awards
- Landfill Management Technical Division Award
- Planning & Management Technical Division Award
- Sustainable Materials Management Technical Division Awards
- Waste Conversion & Energy Recovery Technical Division Awards
SAFETY AWARDS
SWANA Safety Awards honor safety best practices and successes.
- Best Safety Innovation Award
- Best Safety Training Program Award
- Biggest Safety Improvement Award
- Workplace Wellness Award
- Individual Safety Recognition (NEW AWARD)
Learn More About the Safety Awards »
Scholarships
SWANA has developed several scholarship programs available to SWANA members and their family members who are students seeking to study fields related to waste and resource management or environmental services and engineering to encourage and foster next generation employees.
- Robert P. Stearns/SCS Engineers Scholarship Award
- Harvey W. Gershman Scholarship
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