The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) is accepting applications for its Driver of the Year and Operator of the Year awards. The first round of applications are due by October 31, 2025, with additional review and judging to follow in early 2026. The Driver of the Year awards honor those who operate their vehicles safely and responsibly, maintain outstanding performance records, and contribute positively to the image of the industry. Drivers are recognized at the local, regional, and national levels, as well as the municipal sector, underscoring the importance of excellence across all company sizes and service areas. Similarly, the Operator of the Year award recognizes heavy equipment operators working in post-collection operations, including landfills, materials recovery facilities, and transfer stations.
New for 2026, NWRA has expanded the program to include two additional categories. The Rising Star award, a subset of the Driver of the Year category, highlights drivers with fewer than 10 years in the industry who have already demonstrated an outstanding commitment to safety and performance. The Technician of the Year award, introduced under the Operator of the Year category, recognizes mechanical professionals whose skill, training, and safety records keep operations running efficiently. Companies are able to nominate one Technician of the Year. With the addition of these categories, NWRA has also eliminated the honorable mention designation to place greater emphasis on the winners themselves. Companies are able to nominate one Rising Star if they participate in Driver of the Year and Operator of the Year.
Alongside these program updates, NWRA has revised the pricing structure for submissions. Driver of the Year, Rising Star, and Technician of the Year nominations will now be tiered by company size, while Operator of the Year will be a per entry for members and the public sector. These changes reflect feedback from recurring participants and ensure consistency across award categories.
鈥淓ach year, our Driver and Operator of the Year awards recognize the men and women whose professionalism, skill, and commitment to safety set the standard for our industry,鈥� said Michael E. Hoffman, NWRA president and CEO. 鈥淏y introducing the Rising Star and Technician of the Year categories, we are shining a light on the next generation of drivers as well as the skilled professionals who keep our operations running. These changes strengthen the program and ensure that we continue celebrating excellence across every corner of the waste and recycling industry.鈥� Winners will be recognized at NWRA鈥檚 Annual Awards Gala during the Waste Leadership Summit in June 2026 in Washington, D.C.