36th Annual Awards
Nominations Due January 23, 2026
Each year, the Carolina Recycling Association honors top performers that advance waste reduction and recycling in the Carolinas. Nominations and self-applications will be accepted until January 23, 2026 and recipients will be honored at the Annual Conference. Award categories are consolidated into a general pool and a panel of judges will select a set of outstanding people, projects, and programs to recognize at the 2026 Annual Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. CRA will accept nominations that address all aspects of the industry to recognize the new and innovative projects that are changing the way recycling happens in the Carolinas. You do not have to be a CRA member to receive an award.
The 2026 Annual Awards seek to recognize:
- Projects that are innovative, cutting edge, and impactful to waste reduction in the Carolinas;
- Work that has been successful in addressing current challenges of the recycling industry;
- People who have demonstrated leadership and made a significant contribution to recycling;
- Programs that are diverting new waste streams or using new technology to recover more materials;
- Programs, education, or events that demonstrate creativity in promoting or increasing recycling;
- Projects were difficult to execute but were ultimately successful and replicable in the Carolinas; or
- Projects that address the work of the CRA Councils: Collegiate Recycling, Household Hazardous Waste Management, and Litter Reduction and Beautification.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Projects
