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 2005 in Austin, TX.

By John Trotti

As the premier educational association for solid waste professionals in both the public and private sectors, SWANA’s commitment and passion to promote 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 to Apply?

SWANA’s Excellence in Solid Waste Management Awards program recognizes and encourages 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 our 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 in their programs.

What Do You Need to Do to Apply?

First, make up your mind to do so … then follow through. The deadline for fiscal year 2004 awards submissions is April 4, 2005, 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?

Collection System Award

• Gold: City of Mesa Environmental Management Division (Mesa, AZ—Jennifer Means)
• Silver: Navy Region, Mid-Atlantic (Norfolk, VA—Tony Kealy)
• Bronze: City of Kissimmee—Public Works and Engineering—Sanitation Division (Kissimmee, FL—Richard Raffaelo)

Transfer Station Award

• Gold: Metro Transfer Station, Metro Waste Authority (Des Moines, IA—Antoinette Bernich)
• Bronze: AAA/BFI Transfer Station (Nashville, TN—Wayne Gill)

Communication Award

• Gold: www.Trash4Kids.org—Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (Gurnee, IL—Victoria Wiedel)
• Silver: www.NYCWasteless.com—New York City Department of Sanitation, Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse & Recycling (New York—Robert Lange)

Public Education Award

• Gold: Montgomery County Solid Waste District (Dayton, OH—Daniel Graeter)
• Silver: Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) (Chesapeake, VA—Felicia Blow)
• Bronze: City of Phoenix America Recycles Day Team (Phoenix, AZ—Carolyn Bristo)

Marketing Award

• Gold: Mecklenburg County Commercial Recycling Program (Charlotte, NC—Jerry Stall)
• Silver: City of Plano Compost Marketing & Operations (Plano, TX—Nancy Nevil)
• Bronze: Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) (Chesapeake, VA—Felicia Blow)

Landfill Management Award

• Gold: New River Regional Landfill (Raiford, FL—Darrell O’Neal)
• Silver: Seminole County Solid Waste Management (Longwood, FL—Coleen Puglisi)
• Bronze: Charles City (Charles City, VA—John Miniclier)

Solid Waste Management System Award

• Gold: City of Nashua Department of Public Works (Nashua, NH—Richard Reine)
• Silver: Saipan Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems—Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands  (Saipan, MP—Steve Hiney)
• Bronze: Navy Whidbey Solid Waste Management Division (Oak Harbor, WA—Paul Brewer)

Special Waste Award

• Gold: Crow Wing County Solid Waste Department (Brainerd, MN—Doug Morris)
• Silver: City of Hamilton—Waste Management Division  (Hamilton, ON—Emil Prpic)
• Bronze: HHW Facility Metro Public Works, Division of Waste Management (Nashville—Chase Anderson)

Composting Award

• Gold: Maui EKO Systems/Pacific Biodiesel (Wailuku, Maui, HI—John D. Harder)
• Silver: Baltimore City Composting Facility (Baltimore—Robin Davidov)
• Bronze: City of San Diego, Environmental Services Department (San Diego—Stephen Grealy)

Recycling Award

• Gold: Montgomery County Recycling Center (Derwood, MD—Tom Kusterer)
• Silver: Empresa Del Valenciano Inc. (ERV Inc.) (Juncos, Puerto Rico—Miguel Ray)
• Bronze: City of University City Department of Public Works (University City, MO—Evelyn Shields-Benford)

Waste-to-Energy Award

• Gold: Montenay York Resource Energy Systems, LLC. (York, PA—Edward Salsbury)
• Silver: American Ref-Fuel Company of Hempstead (Westbury, NY—Steve Bossotti)
• Bronze: Covanta Alexandria/Arlington Inc. (Alexandria, VA—Tom Reardon)

John Trotti is the editor of MSW Management.

MSW - January/February 2005