Recognize Excellence: 2024 SWANA Awards Program Nominations Now Open

Nominations are now open for the 2024 awards program.

This is a high-profile opportunity to be recognized by industry colleagues and to inspire others to achieve excellence. Award winners will be announced in August and celebrated at an award ceremony during WASTECON^® in October.

Professional Awards:

• Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award: The highest accolade from SWANA recognizes service and activity beyond normal responsibilities to the industry, employer, and general public.
• Professional Achievement Award: Recognizes a SWANA member for valuable and distinguished contributions to SWANA, the individual’s employing organization and the general public.
• Life Member Award: Recognizes one SWANA member for length of service, commitment to SWANA and its chapters, and superior commitment and service to employer and industry.
• Honorary Membership Award: Recognizes an individual (non-member or staff) for significant contributions to environmental protection, solid waste and resource management who have been instrumental in supporting the mission of SWANA.

Safety Awards:

• Best Safety Training Program: Recognizes organizations that have implemented safety training that results in continuous improvement and has employee buy-in.
• Biggest Safety Improvement: The winner of this award will be determined by measurable improvement in areas such as leading indicators, accidents rates, 3rd party claims, or other quantifiable measures.
• Best Safety Innovation: Recognizes 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.
• Workplace Wellness Program: Recognizes effective health and wellness programs that respond to and anticipate employee needs.

Young Professional Leader of the Year Award

The SWANA YP of the Year Award formally acknowledges the hard work and dedication of Young Professionals in the solid waste industry. The award, which is presented to three exemplary Young Professional members annually, recognizes YP’s for outstanding performance and dedication to the solid waste and resource management industry.

Legacy Fund Early Career Professional Development Award/Stipend

The SWANA Legacy Fund will award up to three stipends to high-potential young professionals with less than three years of industry experience to support attendance at their first SWANA national conference or training center. See details in program outline.