Each year Recycle Colorado seeks nominations for our annual Recycling Awards. These prestigious awards recognize governmental entities, individuals, companies, media and organizations for their excellence in recycling or promotion of recycling. The 2019 awards will be presented at the 30th annual Summit for Recycling conference in Pueblo, Colorado, June 9-11. Please inform your nominee to plan on being in Pueblo on Monday, June 10th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm for the awards ceremony. Award recipients will be notified by May 3, 2019.

Deadline for submissions: 3:00pm, April 24, 2019 - EXTENDED

Please review the award categories, then scroll down for link to submit your nomination form.

Recycling Award Categories

• Outstanding Business Recycling/Diversion Program
  This award will be given to a company or organization whose work and/or innovation has furthered and expanded recycling in Colorado. The business’ primary function can be recycling, but this is not a requirement. Organics and electronics programs fall into this category.
• Outstanding Government or Nonprofit Recycling/Diversion Program
  This award will be given to a public agency or nonprofit organization that leads by example, creating programs that effectively increase recycling and waste diversion. Organics and electronics programs fall into this category.
• Outstanding Elected Official
  This award will be given to an elected official at any governmental level whose actions in office have significantly contributed to recycling and reducing waste in Colorado during the past year. What did this individual accomplish that distinguishes them?
• Lifetime Achievement
  This award will be given to an individual Recycle Colorado member whose actions have significantly furthered recycling and reduced solid waste in Colorado and the region during their lifetime. What did this individual accomplish that distinguishes them? Was the nominee's work above and beyond the normal scope of their duties?
• Outstanding Outreach
  This award will be given to an individual, media outlet, educational institution (college, university, public/private school, school district, etc.), municipal entity (city, county or state government) or nonprofit organization that in the last year has worked to promote recycling, composting or waste reduction in Colorado. This could be through a community outreach program or a high-impact story that was covered in the media. Who was the audience and how was the information distributed? What was the impact? Did the media coverage or program result in additional coverage throughout the year? A link to an actual article or examples of outreach materials should also be submitted.
• Recycler of the Year
  This award will be given to an individual Recycle Colorado member whose actions have significantly furthered recycling and reduced solid waste in Colorado and the region during the past year. Please include what the individual accomplished that distinguishes them. Was the nominee's work above and beyond the normal scope of their duties?
• ‘Cara Russell’ Rising Star
  This award will be given to an individual Recycle Colorado member that has demonstrated an eagerness to jump right into the world of recycling, with passion and enthusiasm. This person has been deemed to contribute a significant amount of his/her time, resources and dedication to the organization for the betterment of the world around them. A member is either a paying member, or employee or volunteer of a paying organization.
• ‘Mereth Meade’ Outstanding Volunteer Of the Year
  This award will be given to an individual whose volunteer actions have significantly contributed to recycling and reduced solid waste in Colorado during the past year. What did this individual accomplish that distinguishes them?

Submit Your Nomination Form

Questions? If you have questions or are unable to submit your nomination online, contact Amy Randell.

Nomination Information
During the online nomination process, you will be asked to provide the following information.

1. Nominator Information
   • Name, company, street address, city state and zip, e-mail address and phone number
2. Nominee Information
   • Note: It is perfectly acceptable and appropriate to nominate one’s own organization or oneself.
   • Name, company, street address, city state and zip, e-mail address and phone number
   • Email and phone number for two individuals or organizations that are familiar with the nominee’s work
3. Summary
   • In 1,000 words or less, tell us about the nominee. The summary must include how the nominee and/or their program impacted the recycling industry, the environment and/or the community/state of Colorado. In addition to the information requested above in the awards category table, key items to include, if applicable, are:
     • What is useful, unique, or noteworthy about this effort?
     •  What progress has been made and how was success demonstrated?
     • Describe the outreach and/or educational efforts. Provide examples if possible.
     • Describe the program’s longevity / date started, target audience / users.
     • Include the documented participation and recovery rates, quantity and types (in tons, volumes or percentages) of recycled materials reused, waste reduced or prevented, materials or toxins reduced.
     • Describe any key lessons learned to share with others.
     • Describe the aspects of originality, strategies or risks taken to overcome meeting the needs of your audience, addressing challenges and barriers, or filling gaps, including procurement efforts to “close the loop” if applicable.
     • Describe the level of commitment from the individual or company, or the overall environmental benefit the individual or company has accomplished.