NWRA announces membership award honorees

The National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) announced membership award honorees across three categories for contributions in support of the waste and recycling industry and the association.

Members of the Year are selected based upon extraordinary service to the mission and goals of NWRA and the industry over the past year. Chapter Leadership awards are presented to members whose contributions to a chapter were particularly meritorious. Distinguished Service awards are presented to longstanding members of NWRA who render service in pursuit of its mission and goals. It recognizes the highest spirit of volunteerism, personal integrity, professionalism and performance in an honorable and ethical manner.

The 2019 awardees are:

Members of the Year Award: Chris Coulter, VP of Peoria, Illinois-based Peoria Disposal Company, and Don Ross, VP of Scranton, Iowa-based New Way Trucks

Chapter Leadership Award: Michael O’Connor, owner of Phoenix-based Premier Waste Services, and Steve Edwards, governmental affairs & municipal sales and marketing manager at Ponte Vedra, Florida-based Advanced Disposal Services Inc.

Distinguished Service Awards: Tom Agema, general manager of East Hazel Crest, Illinois-based Homewood Disposal; Michael Savage, president and CEO of Philadelphia-based PTR Baler & Compactor Company; and Kevin O’Brien, former regional VP at Houston-based WCA Waste Corporation.

“Our member companies and their employees are the strength of NWRA. Without these individuals’ leadership and contribution, NWRA would not be the leading association in the waste industry. I congratulate them on their achievement,” NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith says.

The award winners will be officially recognized at WasteExpo 2019 during the awards breakfast.