SWANA’s 2012 Excellence Awards Program
Applications Due: April 13, 2012
Every year, SWANA recognizes excellence in MSW operations at its awards ceremony at WASTECON, an exercise that brings to mind the story of Gilbert, who showed up at the weekly church service one Sunday but, instead of maintaining his normally reserved manner, stunned the congregation by belting out in the midst of a particularly brimstone sermon, “Lord, Lord, please let me win the lottery.”
After he had repeated his plea several times, adding reasons why his wish should be granted, the preacher halted his message while sounds of affront began to well up from the Gilbert’s fellow parishioners. Then to everyone’s shock, a huge voice filled the building saying, “Gilbert. I hear you, and truly you are a worthy soul, but meet me halfway…buy a ticket."
It seems to me the same situation applies to a lot of you who know that your operations are worthy of recognition but never quite get around to submitting the details to SWANA for consideration. True, you’ve got paperwork coming out your ears, so the thought of adding to the mess is something less than appealing, but stop and think for a moment of the beneficiaries are and what your effort can produce.
So, Ok. Like Gilbert with the lottery, what do you need to do?
First off, there’s the money (Why? Because it takes a lot of time and effort to evaluate the submissions):
$125 for first-time applicants submitting one nomination
$100 per application for those who have submitted in one of the previous two years (2010, 2011)
$200 for organizations submitting two applications under different categories
$225 for organizations submitting three applications under different categories
Select from among 14 categories:
- Collection Systems
- Communication
- Composting Systems
- Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems
- Landfill Gas Control
- Landfill Gas Utilization
- Landfill Management
- Landfill Reuse
- Marketing
- Public Education
- Recycling Systems
- Special Waste Management
- Transfer Stations
- Waste-to-Energy
Then go to http://swanastore.stores.yahoo.net/exawno.html to submit your nomination fee online and then be prompted to download the nomination form asking for your program/facility information.
If you win an award, the name on the plaque is that of your organization, but the real recipients are your people…and they will know and take pride in it. But what happens if you don’t win? Well guess what? Your people will know what you think of them and their efforts, which is worth more than any plaque, and all the more reason to take a shot at it again next year.