The Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards help raise awareness, inspire change, and drive progress within the industry. Don’t miss your chance to be involved.
The Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards (WIRA) are not just acknowledgments of past achievements but also catalysts for future growth and innovation.
After a successful 2023 event, the 2024 awards are expected to garner even more interest. They salute the companies and people who deliver value to the recycling and resource recovery industry daily.
The awards, held in conjunction with Waste Australia Expo, will take place in Melbourne on October 23, 2024, with a venue yet to be finalised.
Industry heavyweights Veolia, REMONDIS, Visy, and Re-Group have signed on as sponsors, and more opportunities are still available. Organisers are flagging record-breaking nominations across 10 award categories.
Image: Prime Creative Media
Resource recovery specialist Repurpose It has featured prominently at past awards. The operations team earned the Operational Excellence award in 2022, the same year that Founder and Chief Executive Officer George Hatzimanolis won Leader of the Year. In 2023, Jelena Hercegovac was awarded the Women in Waste.
George says the awards process is more than just a ceremony; it’s an opportunity to reflect on how the company conducts its business, evaluate successes, and identify areas for growth. Reflection is invaluable in driving the company to continually improve and innovate.
He says while the awards shine a spotlight on the business and raise awareness of the important work being done within the industry, the visibility that comes with such accolades is crucial in educating industry stakeholders about the principles and benefits of the circular economy.
“The need for greater awareness and education in this area cannot be overstated. Awards are one vehicle for promoting this knowledge,” George says.
“Our commitment to sustainability and operational excellence is at the core of everything we do at Repurpose It. The recognition from WIRA validates our efforts and motivates us to push further. It highlights the dedication of our entire team and underscores the impact of our collective efforts on the environment and the industry.”
For Jelena, mentoring young professionals in the industry and encouraging and empowering more women to join the STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) sector is a career legacy to aspire to.
“That is what makes this award meaningful and special to me,” she says.
Nominations for the 2024 awards are now open and will close at 11.59 pm, Friday 30 August 2024.
Awards will be presented for Outstanding WARR Project (Metro); Outstanding WARR Project (Regional/Rural); Operational Excellence; Innovation (proudly sponsored by Veolia); Outstanding Facility; Young Professional (proudly sponsored by REMONDIS Australia); Woman of Waste (proudly sponsored by Re.Group); Community Engagement Success of the Year (proudly sponsored by Visy); WIAR Workplace of the Year, and Leader of the Year.
“The 2023 awards night was a highlight of our events calendar,” says the General Manager of Events for Prime Creative Media, Siobhan Rocks. “It is a very competitive industry, evidenced by the quality and number of nominations received.
“The awards night is an ideal opportunity to network with peers and friends. But more than that, it’s an opportunity to highlight the inspiring ideas and help grow individuals, organisations and the industry.”
Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
To nominate, visit: www.wasteawards.com.au
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