In addition to its role as official publication of the Solid Waste Association of North America, the world’s largest solid waste organization, MSW Management will join in sponsoring the SWANA Excellence Awards at WASTECON 2004 in Phoenix, AZ.

By John Trotti

As the premier educational association for solid waste professionals in both the public and private sectors, SWANA’s commitment to and passion for promoting professionalism in solid waste management worldwide is perhaps the association’s greatest strength. Without such a vitally active membership, SWANA would not be the comprehensive organization it is today. The SWANA Technical Excellence Awards recognize those organizations whose contributions to the field deserve special acknowledgment. These awards are especially prestigious, as they reflect the judgment of professional leaders within each of the achievement categories. Every former award-winning organization is truly an example of excellence to others.

What Do You Need to Know and Do to Apply?
SWANA’s Excellence in Solid Waste Management Awards recognize and encourage the development of environmentally and economically sound solid waste management programs. The awards are based on several criteria that evaluate an organization’s commitment to environmentally and economically sound solid waste management. Among these criteria are environmental compliance, program efficiency and effectiveness, safety, and innovation.

While each of these is important, the overriding question you should ask yourself in preparing your application is “What are the relevant aspects of my facility, system, or program that exemplify excellence in solid waste management and are worthy of recognition?” Now more than ever, the judges will be looking for evidence that applicants have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

To apply, first make up your mind to do so … then follow through. The deadline for fiscal year 2004 awards submissions is April 2, 2004, but don’t wait until the last minute—your presentation is all the judges will have to go by before they make their final site visits. Nomination forms and specific requirements can be obtained by calling SWANA at 800/467-9262 or downloading a PDF file for each category from SWANA’s Web site at www.SWANA.org.

Not Sure How to Put Your Best Foot Forward?
Here’s a list of award categories along with the most recent winners. Why not latch onto success by contacting some of them and asking for their secrets?

Solid Waste Management System
Gold: Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia, Chesapeake, VA
Silver: Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, Salinas, CA

Landfill Management
Gold: Turnkey Recycling Environmental Enterprise (Waste Management: NH), Gonic, NH
Silver: Toland Road Landfill, Ventura Regional Sanitation District, Ventura, CA
Bronze: Wicomico County Landfill, Wicomico County Department of Public Works, Salisbury, MD

Composting
Gold: Navy Whidbey Recycle, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA
Recycling
Bronze: Montenay Power Corp., Miami-Dade Resource Recovery Facility, Miami, FL

Transfer Station
Gold: Hennepin County Transfer Station: Hennepin County Environmental Services, Brooklyn Park, MN
Silver: Shady Grove Transfer Station: Montgomery County Department of Public Works, Derwood, MD

Collection System
Bronze: Town of Brookhaven, Department of Waste Management, Medford, NY

Public Education
Gold: Pierce County Public Works & Utilities, Solid Waste Division, University Place, WA
Silver: City of Seattle, Seattle, WA
Bronze: City of Nashville, Metro Nashville Public Works: Division of Waste Management, Nashville, TN

Marketing
Gold: City of Hamilton Public Works Department, Waste Management Division, Hamilton, ON
Bronze: City of Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

Landfill Gas Utilization
Bronze: Jamacha Landfill, County of San Diego, Department of Public Works, Inactive Waste Site Management, San Diego, CA

Special Waste
Gold: Mesa County Solid Waste Management, Grand Junction, CO
Silver: Bergen County Utilities Authority, Little Ferry, NJ
Bronze: Fairfax County Division of Solid Waste Disposal & Resource Recovery, Fairfax, VA

John Trotti is the editor of MSW Management.