Safety Awards
SWANA safety awards exemplify the solid waste industry’s profound commitment to improving employee safety through communication, best practices, increased company regulations, and accident review.
These safety awards reflect SWANA’s dedication to supporting and advancing efforts to reduce accidents and injuries in the waste collection industry.
Safety Awards are sponsored by:
Nominations Open for the 2026 SWANA Awards!
Submit nominations for the SWANA Safety Awards. The deadline for nominations is Monday, July 1, 2026, 11:59 pm EDT.
Award recipients will be celebrated in a special event on September 30 at SWANA’s RCon™ 2026, held September 29 – October 2 in St. Louis, Missouri (Award Ceremony location TBD).
Award Categories
BEST SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD
SWANA’s Best Safety Innovation award showcases an exemplary safety innovation undertaken by the solid waste industry during the previous year to reduce hazards and accidents, develop company regulations and best practices, or improve worker safety.
View Additional Information and Criteria »
BEST SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM AWARD
SWANA’s Best Safety Training Program Award recognizes organizations that have implemented safety training in the previous year that results in continuous improvement and has employee buy-in. A winning program is dynamic and responsive to hazards, engages workers at all levels, and has objective results.
View Additional Information and Criteria »
BIGGEST SAFETY IMPROVEMENT AWARD
SWANA’s Biggest Safety Improvement Award showcases an exemplary safety improvement undertaken by the solid waste industry during the previous year.
View Additional Information and Criteria »
WORKPLACE WELLNESS AWARD
SWANA’s Workplace Wellness Award recognizes organizations that go above and beyond to reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for workers. Recipients of this award demonstrate effective health and wellness programs in the previous year that respond to and anticipate employee needs.
View Additional Information and Criteria »
Individual Safety Award -- NEW AWARD
SWANA’s Individual Safety Award recognizes an individual whose initiative and actions have made an outstanding contribution to improving safety in the waste and resource management industry. This award honors proactive or reactive efforts that protect workers, the public, and the community—such as preventing incidents, reducing hazards, strengthening safety culture, mentoring others, or introducing practical improvements that go beyond standard job expectations.
Award Details
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant must be an organization that collects, processes, recycles, or otherwise manages municipal solid waste, recycling, or organics; or designs waste/recycling systems and/or works around their components. The individual submitting the application must be a SWANA member.
JUDGING
Safety Award applications will be reviewed by members of the SWANA Safety Committee. Additional information may be requested verbally or in writing to evaluate the application further. The decision of Safety Award recipients by the Committee is final.
AWARDS
Award recipients are recognized during an award ceremony at SWANA's annual RCon™ and are recognized on the SWANA website and social media.
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