SWACO Honors Green Leaders of Central Ohio

SWACO’s annual EMERALDS are designed to highlight the best green practices of Central Ohio businesses, non-profits, schools, and individuals. In determining the Emerald honorees, the judges look at how the nominees best exemplify the SWACO goal of reducing waste, recycling, cleaning up Central Ohio, and educating our citizens.

The Categories for EMERALD Awards are:
LEADERSHIP
The LEADERSHIP EMERALD is open to an individual group, non-profit organization or business that has demonstrated exemplary, results-producing leadership resulting in positive community impact. Leadership efforts should be focused on one or more of the following: recycling, re-use, green design, waste reduction or re-manufacturing.

Leadership EMERALD Criteria:
• Seriousness of problem or need appropriately addressed
• Quality leadership skills displayed
• Goals clearly defined
• Results clearly documented
• Methods implemented to address the problem or need deemed innovative
• Program has been replicated or attained longevity (if applicable)
• Proven cost effective; return on investment

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
The ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EMERALD recognizes educational programs that focus on teaching the value of the natural world. Educational programs should include one or more of the following emphases:
• Teaching environmental responsibility
• Fostering positive perceptions of the natural world and its short- and long-term viability
• Helping to develop eco-friendly habits
• Engaging others in environmental rejuvenation projects that help develop a meaningful and
lifelong appreciation of and respect for nature

Environmental Education EMERALD Criteria:
• Established program goals
• Full scope of program outlined
• Results clearly documented
• Methods implemented to address the problem or need deemed innovative
• Program has been replicated or attained longevity (if applicable)

YOUNG AND GREEN
The YOUNG AND GREEN EMERALD is designed to recognize local high school students within SWACO’s solid waste district who have demonstrated strong environmental commitment, initiative, or leadership with the goal of positively impacting their surrounding community.

Young & Green EMERALD Criteria:

• Must be a high school student within the SWACO solid waste district
• Must demonstrate strong commitment to waste reduction, recycling, and/or re-use within the student’s school, school district, or community
• Must provide examples of how specific actions have brought about behavioral change within the student’s school, school district, or community

GOOD NEIGHBOR
The GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERALD recognizes individuals, civic groups, or a local government that through best green practices of waste reduction, recycling, litter clean-up, etc., act as a “good neighbor” to Central Ohio.

Good Neighbor Emerald Criteria:
• Program promotes and accomplishes litter control, waste reduction or recycling
• Program is volunteer oriented
• Results, including community impact, clearly documented
• Innovative recruitment shown
• Program has been replicated (if applicable)

SMALL BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT/INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR
The SMALL BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT/INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR EMERALD is open to a small business, non-profit organization or institution with no more than 100 employees or volunteers. This award is designed to show best practices in waste reduction, recycling, and re-use. Nominee should be an example of environmental progress and excellence in the pursuit of a better and greener operation and should serve as an example to others of the benefits of growing green.
Small Business/Non-profit/Institution EMERALD Criteria:

• Best practices demonstrate culture of waste reduction, recycling and re-use
• Commitment by management to green practices
• Involvement of majority of employees or volunteers
• Established community outreach that encourages customers and clients to follow the lead of the small business, non-profit organization or institution
• Involvement in local green organizations/committees/programs that benefit the community

LARGE BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT/INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR
The LARGE BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT/INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR EMERALD is open to a large business, non-profit organization or institution with 101 or more employees or volunteers. This award is designed to show best practices in waste reduction, recycling, and re-use. Nominee should be an example of environmental progress and excellence in the pursuit of a better and greener operation and should serve as an example to others of the benefits of growing green.
Large Business/Non-profit/Institution EMERALD Criteria:

• Best practices demonstrate culture of waste reduction, recycling and re-use
• Commitment by management to green practices
• Involvement of majority of employees or volunteers
• Established community outreach that encourages customers and clients to follow the lead of the small business, non-profit organization or institution
• Involvement in local green organizations/committees/programs that benefit the community

COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
The COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR EMERALD is designed to showcase a community within the SWACO solid waste district, by example, demonstrates the benefits of reducing waste, recycling and re-use. Appropriate consideration will be given to the community’s size and available resources. The winning community must be able to document presented figures.

Community of the Year EMERALD Criteria:
• Must document increase in community’s recycling rate
• Must give examples of waste reduction initiatives
• Must provide examples of environmental leadership that furthers SWACO’s mission

Visit www.SWACO.org for more information on the EMERALDS as well as SWACO programs and services. Questions may be directed to John Remy at 614-801-6410 or john.remy@swaco.org

The Emeralds Awards luncheon is held every May. Nominations are usually accepted starting in January or February.