The Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery (WCER) Trailblazer Award Submission Criteria

In addition to describing your career/involvement in the Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery (WCER) industry, explain why you are applying in this category and why you deserve to win an award. Answer the question: What makes you a Trailblazer in this field?

OPTIONAL: In addition to a written executive summary of no more than 150 words, you may include a link to a video of no more than 90 seconds that tells the story of your waste conversion and energy recovery journey. Award winners are required to make a short video for use by SWANA to promote award winners and showcase their impact on the Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery community.

• Current SWANA Member and WCER Technical Division Subscriber: Extended years actively involved in the Division are a factor in evaluating candidates.
• Committee Service: Noted, serious, and extended participation in one or more committees of the WC&ER Technical Division will receive favored scoring consideration. Participation means active and measurable contributions, such as drafting materials for a committee, serving as a faculty member for SWANA WC&ER training courses, providing comments and reviews of committee materials, etc.
• SOAR or WASTECON Attendance: Attendance and participation in SWANA-related WCER meetings are considered beneficial. Documentation of regular attendance at annual SOAR and WASTECON conferences will receive favorable consideration.
• Presentations given at SOAR or WASTECON: Preparation and presentation of publications, etc. will be given strong consideration. Documentation by the inclusion of a listing of presentations and other publications specific to these criteria must be included with a candidate’s nomination. Only presentations in the proceedings of SOAR, NAWTEC, or WASTECON® will be given favorable consideration.
• Division/Committee Leadership: SWANA and WCER Technical Division members who have served in leadership roles (chairs/vice-chairs, working groups, special assignments) in committees and the division structure will be given favorable consideration over candidates who have not provided leadership to the mission of the division.

The Awards Committee favors candidates who have demonstrated, on a long-term basis, significant contributions to the success of their employer(s). Each of the criteria listed that can be demonstrated to that measure will enhance a candidate’s consideration.

• Work History: The Awards Committee will look for measurable contributions by candidates with each of their employers. Measurable growth through a progressive increase in either management or technical responsibilities will be given favorable consideration. An unblemished technical and professional career is a necessity for any successful candidate.
• Other Employer-Related Service: This criterion would be used to note service to an employer that might not be WC&ER related but was important to the economic and business success of an employer.

• Professional Achievements and Contributions (international, national, local): This criterion is to recognize measurable professional contributions to the field of WC&ER. Contributions might be participation in international organizations, the development of theories, applications of theories, new equipment or techniques that have been adopted in practice, membership and leadership in other professional organizations which help advance professional and ethical practices in a chosen field of endeavor, etc. Achievements may include development of new technologies, patents held, scaling-up of pilot-scale technologies, other industry awards and recognition, etc.
• Advocacy Work (legislative, regulatory, other): This criterion notes valued and measurable contributions by a candidate to the advancement of WC&ER management at the community, professional, local, state, provincial, national or international levels. Examples would include serving on advisory committees involved in legislative, regulatory, educational, or professional development, advancement, or implementation of:
  • Standards, regulations, and legislation
  • Codes or guidelines for good practice
  • Educational curriculum
  • Public education and understanding
  • Community outreach
  • Similar efforts

Active involvement in the work of SWANA is beneficial for candidates. The following criteria will be used in evaluating a candidate’s support of the SWANA mission.

• SWANA Membership: Extended membership in SWANA will be given favorable consideration. (Five-year membership in SWANA is not a requirement for this award).
• Chapter Support: Chapters are an essential part of the SWANA mission. A SWANA Member automatically is a member of the local SWANA chapter. Active participation in chapter activities is considered a valuable part of the contributions of a SWANA member to the SWANA mission.
• SWANA Support (Board, or other SWANA divisions or committees): The success of SWANA depends on a vital and active voluntary membership. Candidate involvement in SWANA activities other than the chapters and WCER Technical Division will be given favorable consideration. Involvement would include such activities as serving on the SWANA Board, a non-technical committee (intern, certification) other technical divisions, serving as a mentor with the SWANA MentorMatch program.

Since waste conversion and energy recovery is part of the broader practice of integrated solid waste management, this criterion is used to measure a candidate’s involvement in solid waste management beyond waste conversion and energy recovery.

• Integrated Solid Waste Management Roles and Responsibilities: Activities that might be included in this category are participation in public/citizen activities associated with the planning and implementation of solid waste programs, active membership in environmental organizations, corresponding and parallel work in another non-WCER practice.
• WCER Outreach/Presentations to Other Organizations: This criterion recognizes those contributions of candidates that help promote an understanding about waste conversion and energy recovery with other organizations not closely aligned with or well aware of the practice of waste conversion and energy recovery.

This criterion recognizes the broader character of candidates by considering their participation in activities that are not associated with their livelihood that help protect, improve, or increase quality of life and the environment. Membership, active participation, and contributions in civic, political, religious, non-profit, educational, environmental, youth, or charitable organizations will be given favorable consideration.

This is a judges’ category only, not to be addressed in your application. Your application will be judged on its organization and presentation, and on editorial and technical quality.