NWRA Receives Award for Slow Down to Get Around Initiative

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) was recently honored with a 2019 Power of A Silver Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its Slow Down to Get Around legislative advocacy campaign. The Power of A Awards recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions associations make to society by enriching lives, creating a competitive workforce, preparing society for the future, driving innovation and making a better world.

“This award recognizes the hard work of our chapters, member companies and staff to fight for safer roads,” said Darrell Smith, president and CEO of NWRA, in a statement. “We want motorists to move over when they approach a waste and recycling collection vehicle. Driving safely should be a top priority for anyone getting behind the wheel. These laws carry an important message—stay alert and slow down around waste and recycling trucks.”   

NWRA member companies have been diligent in providing advanced safety training for drivers and those who step off the trucks to make collections. However, drivers who are distracted—or just going too fast—are a major hazard for waste collection workers.

“NWRA and its member companies work hard to ensure that our employees get home safely at the end of the day. Advocacy efforts like ‘Slow Down to Get Around’ help support that goal,” said Ben Harvey, president of E.L. Harvey & Sons and chair of the NWRA Board of Trustees, in a statement. “With move over laws on the books in more than 30 states, we are making the roads safer for our employees and motorists. I am glad that NWRA was recognized for its contributions to road safety.”