Dive Brief:
- Waste360 has unveiled the winners of the first annual 40 Under 40 Awards, recognizing successful and innovative industry professionals including recyclers, haulers, policy makers, and product suppliers.
- Winners include leaders from Waste Management, Casella Waste, Republic Services, DSNY, Advanced Disposal, Progressive Waste, Rubicon Global, and more. The full list of recipients and their titles can be read here.
- Waste360 Editorial Director David Bodamer said in a press statement that he believes the winners will have a significant impact on the solid waste management industry. "We congratulate all of the professionals we've recognized, and we look forward to watching them chart the course for the industry in the years to come," he said.
Dive Insight:
In a recent interview with Waste Dive, SWANA CEO David Biderman noted, "Many baby boomers who made their way to leadership positions are starting to retire. The decades-long relationships between people and their associations need to be replaced by the next generation of leaders."
This focus on the "next generation" of the waste industry is important to highlight as young professionals are emerging in every sector of the industry, bringing new and unique perspectives to the table. A prime example of this is Rubicon Global CEO Nate Morris—one of the 40 Under 40 recipients—and his vision for the "Uber of recycling." Morris' idea of an on-demand recycling service may be most appealing to a younger generation of consumers, but he assured Waste Dive that it fits with the direction that the industry is headed.
SWANA's Young Professional (YP) group and NWRA's Future Industry Leaders Alliance are among two industry networks encouraging more young professionals to advance their impacts on the solid waste industry and become more involved. As these groups grow to accommodate hundreds of members, Waste360 will be sure to have a wealth of fresh nominations for next year's 40 Under 40 Awards.