What is it? The Excellence Awards are a competitive program recognizing the work of outstanding programs and facilities in fourteen different practice areas of solid waste management across North America, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Why should I apply? The Excellence Awards program is a unique opportunity to earn well-deserved recognition from your local community, as well as the broader solid waste industry, for your program or facility. Winners will be recognized and presented with awards at SWANA’s Annual Awards Banquet at WASTECON 2012 in the Washington DC area. Many past winners have proudly displayed these awards at their facilities, and used the recognition to gain support for their programs from the public and their local governments.

Where can I find out more? Click here to read applications from previous winners and to link to the 2012 nomination form.

What does it cost to apply?

• $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

What are the categories? The 14 categories are:

• Collection Systems
• Landfill Re-Use
• Communication
• Marketing
• Composting Systems
• Public Education
• Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems
• Recycling Systems
• Landfill Gas Control
• Special Waste Management
• Landfill Gas Utilization
• Transfer Stations
• Landfill Management
• Waste-to-Energy

How do I apply? Your award application consists of a Nomination Fee, Online Nomination Form, and a Program/Facility Description. Applying for an award is easy with SWANA's online application! Click here to apply. Submit your nomination fee online and you will be prompted to download the nomination form.

When is the deadline? Applications must be received by Friday, April 13, 2011, so don’t delay!

For questions or more information, please contact Jesse Maxwell, Program Coordinator, Division and Conference Programs Department, at dcpd@swana.org.