The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) has announced this year鈥檚 recipients of the industry鈥檚 highest awards. Twenty-two industry professionals will be honored for their commitment to safety, contributions to the communities they serve, trailblazing efforts within the industry and the work they have achieved that has made waste and recycling safer, smarter and stronger. 聽Awardees announced today will be honored at the annual NWRA Awards Breakfast at WasteExpo taking place Tuesday, May 9 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Individuals are being honored in the following categories: Drivers of the Year, Operator of the Year, Members of the Year, Chapter Leadership and Distinguished Service. Also, four industry legends are being inducted into the NWRA Hall of Fame.
The 聽winners of the Driver of the Year award, sponsored by 3rd and Heil Environmental, were evaluated based on their driving records, as well as their commitment to customers. This year鈥檚 class of honorees includes the first ever woman to win this recognition. The recipients are:
- Javier Verduzco: Large Commercial, Republic Services, Huntington Beach, CA
- Jesse Pe帽a: 聽Large Industrial, Republic Services, Phoenix, AZ
- Mark Rutkowski: Large Industrial, Waste Management, Baltimore, MD
- Rick Thomas: 聽Large Residential, Waste Connections, Eugene, OR
- Halsey Wolford: 聽Regional Commercial, Rumpke, Cincinnati, OH
- Greg Figueroa: Regional Industrial, WCA, Tavares, FL
- Terry Russell: Regional Residential, Rumpke, Circleville, OH
- Derrick Belin: Medium, All Waste, Inc., Hartford, CT
- Bill Kuhlman: Small, Walters Recycling and Refuse, Blaine, MN
- Rhonda Kitchen: Public, Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District, Midvale, UT
The Operator of the Year Award, sponsored by Volvo, recognizes the safest and most industrious heavy equipment operator in post-collection operations. This is a new award and its first recipient will be Bruce Russin of Casella Waste Solutions.
The Chapter Leadership Award recognizes outstanding contributions to advocacy and advancement of the industry through NWRA鈥檚 state chapters. This year鈥檚 recipient chairs the NWRA Florida chapter. His name is Charlie Latham with Waste Management.
Distinguished Service Award recipients are honored for their continuing contributions toward the advancement of the industry and for their community involvement. This year鈥檚 winners are:
- Carmen Smothers 鈥� Environmental Solutions Group
- James Thaxton 鈥� Rumpke Waste & Recycling
- Robert Pfister 鈥� Advanced Disposal
- Carl Hornbeger 鈥� Republic Services
NWRA Member of the Year awards, sponsored by McNeilus, are given to individuals who make outstanding contributions to the advancement of the industry. This year鈥檚 recipients are:聽
- Michael McLaughlin 鈥� Scranton Manufacturing Company
- Garrett Trierweiler 鈥� Waste Management
Four industry leaders are being inducted into the NWRA Hall of Fame for lifetime contributions to the waste and recycling industry聽
- Ronald Mittelstaedt – 聽Waste Connections, Inc.
- John and Douglas Casella 鈥� Casella Waste Services, Inc.
- Kenneth Burkett – American Waste Control, Inc.
鈥淲e are so proud of these men and women for their commitment to safety and excellence and for going above and beyond the call of duty to serve families and communities,鈥� said Kevin Kraushaar, NWRA Interim CEO. 聽鈥淚 look forward to celebrating them all in May at our annual Awards Breakfast at Waste Expo.鈥�
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