Thomas Metzger

More than two dozen men and women in the solid waste industry were recently honored for their service to the field at a special awards ceremony, sponsored by the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) and its two sub-associations, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC). The breakfast ceremony was held in Dallas during WasteExpo 2011, North America’s largest solid waste and recycling tradeshow.

“We are honored to recognize these 27 individuals,” said EIA and NSWMA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker at the ceremony. “The careers of these committed professionals are filled with outstanding achievements. Their noteworthy service to their companies and America’s solid waste industry has helped our industry better serve its customers, be more safety conscious and be more environmentally innovative.”

First honored were the 2011 Drivers of the Year. For more on these honorees, see last month’s EIA column.

EIA Hall of Fame

Charlie Appleby, chairman and CEO of Advanced Disposal Services and chairman of EIA, continued by saluting the 2011 inductees into the EIA Hall of Fame. “Through the Hall of Fame, we show respect and admiration for leaders who have been actively engaged in the waste industry and whose creative ideas, innovative concepts and contributions have made a significant difference to our industry.” The 2011 inductees were:

Don Williamson, president of West Central Sanitation and chairman of NSWMA, then introduced the NSWMA award recipients. “The NSWMA awards recognize individuals who have shown a continuing, high-level of commitment to furthering the goals of the association through chapters, councils, committees or working groups.”

Those honored by NSWMA in 2011 were:

NSWMA Distinguished Service Award

NSWMA Member of the Year

NSWMA Special Governor’s Awards

“The WASTEC awards are a unique opportunity to recognize hard-working individuals who have given extraordinary service to the mission and goals of their companies, WASTEC and the products and equipment produced for the waste industry,” said Bill Wilkerson, vice president of sales and marketing at the Environmental Solutions Group and chairman of WASTEC, while introducing the final group of honorees. Janice Bradley, WASTEC’s executive vice president, added, “We are fortunate to be part of an industry with such a dynamic and praiseworthy workforce. We salute all of the award recipients.”

2011 WASTEC honorees included:

WASTEC Distinguished Service Award

WASTEC Employees of the Year

WASTEC Member of the Year

For more information about EIA, NSWMA, WASTEC and their award programs, visit environmentalistseveryday.org/awards.

Thomas Metzger is director of communications and public affairs for the National Solid Wastes Management Association. Reach him at (202) 364-3751.