Recycling Facility of the Year Award Application 

This award is open to outstanding recycling facilities that are owned/operated by either NWRA members or public sector/non-profit entities. The award recognizes the facility that leads all other facilities in one or more key measurements, such as innovation, quantity of materials collected and/or processed, types of materials recovered, site improvements, or sustainability measures adopted. Applicants should describe methodologies and provide data that document their facility as the preeminent recycling facility of the year.

 

Nomination Fee: $150

How to Enter: Email Lyndsi Hicks (lhicks@wasterecycling.org) as soon as possible and include the name of the award. NWRA will issue an invoice, which must be paid no later than July 31, 2026, for the application to be eligible.

Submission Deadline: Submit your completed application before or by July 31, 2026

Questions? Contact Sara Bixby at sbixby@wasterecycling.org 

Nomination Guidelines

Your application for Recycling Facility of the Year should provide the information necessary for NWRA’s Recycling Committee and awards judges to understand how the facility is the preeminent recycling facility of the year. Data and metrics will be critical in making your case.

You will be asked to provide the following information within this form:

1. Applicant Information
   • The name of the facility. For the winning facility, this is the name we will use in press releases and in developing artwork for the trophy.
   • Contact information (name, email, phone number) for the person preparing the award application and responsible for answering questions, ensuring completion, and invoice payment.
   • Indicate whether the applicant is an NWRA member or a public sector/non-profit entity not eligible for NWRA membership.
   • List of individuals (with titles and companies) responsible for the nominated facility.
   • A logo for each of the identified companies or organizations. All logos should be submitted as an EPS, .ai, or high-resolution PDF.
     
     
2. Qualifying Criteria
   • Program background and goals (40 pts): Provide a narrative about the facility's history and background. Include details about siting; design; size, equipment, and capacity of the facility. Discuss the facility’s goals and the materials accepted. Describe any major barriers to success that were resolved.
   • Program effectiveness and metrics (45 pts): Identify sustainability measures – both qualitative and quantitative – and how the nominated facility works to achieve them. Include measurable results, and support your response with data, charts, graphs, and visuals (e.g., photos, schematics).
   • Additional info and recognition (10 pts): Attach any supplemental materials such as letters of recommendation, brochures, print ads, videos, or other media. Highlight any awards or honors previously received.
   • Application quality (5 pts): Applications will be reviewed for completeness, clarity, and overall presentation.

Also, remember the application fee must be paid by the July 31 application deadline for the nomination to be considered.

Before You Begin

This form contains many detailed questions and will take some time to complete. We strongly recommend that you first review the full list of questions in the downloadable overview so you can gather the necessary information and materials before beginning your submission.

All applications must be submitted using this Jotform. You will be asked to choose one of the following two submission methods for your Qualifying Criteria:

1. Upload a complete application as a single PDF that includes all required responses to the Qualifying Criteria section, along with any photos, figures, or attachments. The entire file must not exceed 20 pages.
   
   
2. Complete the application through this form by filling in the provided fields and uploading supporting materials where prompted. A compiled PDF will be generated upon submission and must also not exceed 20 pages in total length.

Submissions that exceed the page limit may be disqualified.

Data can be presented within your narrative responses or as supporting charts and graphs. A picture is worth a thousand word. Please include color photographs, drawings, or schematics that help illustrate your innovation and accomplishments.

You may upload multiple attachments in each file upload section. If you have several supporting documents or images, please attach them all as needed.

Questions? Contact Sara Bixby, sbixby@wasterecycling.org 

Provide a detailed narrative including the facility's history, siting, design, equipment, size and capacity, accepted materials, goals, and any major barriers overcome.

Identify sustainability measures (quantitative and qualitative), major accomplishments, and measurable results. Charts, graphs, and visuals are encouraged.