OMB No. 2050-0139 Expiration Date: June 30, 2011 2008 WasteWise Awards INSTRUCTION MANUAL Preserving Resources, Preventing Waste The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWise Program is proud to offer recognition again this year for the efforts and achievements of outstanding organizations. WasteWise will issue Partner of the Year, Endorser of the Year, Gold Achievement, Hall of Fame, and Honorable Mention Awards. The application process is simple, and there are many benefits. Application Process: ENSURE ELIGIBILITY First, select a category and ensure the eligibility of your organization by consulting the requirements noted within this application packet. If you are unsure of eligibility or require assistance, please contact the WasteWise Helpline at (800) EPA-WISE (372-9473). REPORT 2007 WASTEWISE EFFORTS Applicants for Partner of the Year and Gold Achievement Awards must submit a WasteWise Assessment Form with their annual waste reduction data. This form serves as the most important piece of the Awards application. WasteWise encourages all Partners to complete their forms and ensure that they contain as much detail as possible, especially in the Comments section. Please use the Evaluation Criteria section of this application packet to help guide the completion of your report. The application deadline is March 31, 2008 Award decisions will I made in Summer 2008, and EPA will recognize winners in Fall 2008. WasteWise is not responsible for lost or damaged entries. COMPLETE THE AWARDS APPLICATION FORM Please use the checklist provided on the back of the application to ensure that you include all of the information requested. COMPOSE WRITTEN STATEMENT Applicants for all Awards are required to submit a written statement for each Award category for which you are applying. The written statement should address the evaluation criteria outlined in the 2008 WasteWise Awards Packet. The written statement for each Award category should not exceed 5 pages in length. SUPPLY SUPPORTING MATERIALS (RECOMMENDED) To support your application, WasteWise welcomes the submission of additional materials (e.g., photographs, newsletters, flyers, or press releases). WasteWise requests that supporting materials relate directly to the Award category. Attachments and supporting materials will not be returned. Partner of the Year This Award recognizes Partners for their overall waste prevention achievements, recycling collection initiatives, efforts to purchase or manufacture recycled-content products, and activities to promote WasteWise. Awards will be given to one Partner from each of the following sectors: small business, midsize business, large business, very large business, federal government, local government, state government, tribal government, school/school district, college/university, and nonprofit organization. Depending on Partner response, Awards may not be given in all categories. 'HE AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2008 ------- Eligibility Active participation in WasteWise for at least 1 year from application due date Submission of WasteWise Assessment Form for 2007 WasteWise activities Submission of Awards Application Form Submission of a written statement of " or less addressing the evaluation criteria WasteWise will evaluate entries based on the criteria described below: EVALUATION CRITERIA Waste Prevention Initiatives (30 percent) * Comprehensive and innovative approaches. Comprehensive approaches may include multiple activities aimed at reducing a single waste stream (e.g., activities toward a specific area or material). Innovation includes using atypical or unique solutions for preventing waste. Emphasize activities implemented beyond fundamental waste prevention actions. Fundamental actions might include duplex copying or switching to reusable mugs. Amount prevented. Quantify the amount of waste prevented in 2007 for each specific material. Reduction in expenditures/increase in revenue. Quantify any reduction in expenditures associated with avoided disposal charges, avoided purchasing costs, and any revenue from sales of used materials in 2007. Recycling Collection Initiatives (25 percent) * Improvements due to WasteWise. Describe any activities in 2007 that improved recycling or collection processes. These activities could include placing bins in locations that are more convenient, collecting and recycling new types of materials such as yard waste or food scraps, or implementing employee education campaigns. Amount recycled. Quantify the amount of each specific material recycled in 2007 as a direct result of your participation in WasteWise. Reduction in expenditures/increase in revenue. Quantify any reduction in expenditures associated with avoided disposal costs or revenue from sales of recyclables in 2007. Buying/Manufacturing Products with Recycled-Content Initiatives (25 percent) * Increased levels of recycled content in products purchased or manufactured. Quantify increases in the percentage of the recycled content of products purchased or manufactured in 2007. Optional information. Sample topics that you could discuss: increasing the purchasing of recycled-content products, encouraging vendors to supply more recycled-content products, or writing recycled-content specifications into service contracts. If applicable, you can describe your efforts to increase levels of post-consumer materials in your products, implement a closed-loop manufacturing process, or manufacture a new product with recycled content. Internal and External Promotion of WasteWise (20 percent) * WasteWise Program support. Describe any steps taken in 2007 to support WasteWise by participating in WasteWise functions such as attending WasteWise conferences and meetings, hosting events, participating as a speaker, or delivering WasteWise presentations. Internal promotion. Describe any activities your organization initiated in 2007 to internally promote WasteWise participation (e.g., publishing employee WasteWise newsletters, hosting information fairs on waste reduction, creating posters or fliers encouraging waste reduction, or incorporating waste reduction into employee training). External promotion. Describe activities undertaken in 2007 to promote WasteWise to suppliers, customers, colleagues, and the general public. Promotion could include use of the WasteWise logo on Partners' Web sites, letterhead, or other external communication pieces. Endorser of the Year This Award recognizes Endorsers' outstanding efforts to promote the WasteWise Program to other organizations and their success in recruiting new Partners. WasteWise will evaluate entries for Awards based on the following criteria: EVALUATION CRITERIA Promotional Activities (50 percent) * Scope of activities. Describe the range of activities conducted in 2007 by your organization to promote WasteWise, including information on the creativity and the effectiveness of promotional methods. Eligibility 1 year from application due date Submission of Awards Application Form Submission of a written statement of 5 pages or less addressing the evaluation criteria 'HE AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2008 ------- Frequency of efforts. Describe efforts conducted in 2007 to promote the WasteWise Program. Promotional Results (50 percent) * New Partners joining. Quantify the number of WasteWise Partners joining as a result of your promotional efforts in 2007. New organizations designated as WasteWise prospects. Quantify the number of WasteWise prospects that resulted from your promotional efforts in 2007. Hall of Fame Since the inception of WasteWise in 1994, a select group of member organizations have continually excelled with their waste reduction efforts, supported the initiatives of the WasteWise Program, and served as role models for other Program members. To recognize the outstanding achievements and commitment of these members, WasteWise created the Hall of Fame. Organizations do not need to complete an application for the Hall of Fame. EPA will review annual reports and Awards applications and make selections based on the following eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria: Organizational culture for waste reduction Sustained environmental performance Creativity/innovation in reducing waste Non-traditional methods of waste reduction Outreach to other organizations Relative impact of waste reduction activities Eligibility Active participation in WasteWise for at least 5 years from application due date Minimum of 5 years continuous reporting to the WasteWise Program Sustained environmental accomplishments over at least a 5-year-period of time WasteWise Awards received Reporting history Level of involvement with the program Gold Achievement Awards Eligibility In 2005, WasteWise introduced the Gold Achievement Awards to recognize organizations for outstanding successes in specific focus areas. The following are potential categories for 2007 Gold Achievement Awards. Depending on Partner response, Awards may not be given in all categories. New Partner: This Award recognizes a new WasteWise Partner who, in its first year, implements successful comprehensive waste reduction programs that typify the goals and objectives of the WasteWise Program. Green Purchasing: This Award recognizes a Partner who develops purchasing policies that promote the procurement of products with an overall reduced environmental impact or products with environmentally friendly attributes (e.g. those containing less toxics, greater recycled content, and reusability). Employee Education: This Award recognizes a Partner who implements an educational or promotional campaign that is well planned, comprehensive, and creates employee awareness about the organization's waste prevention and recycling activities. Key elements could include regular employee training and education that promote employee participation in the organization's WasteWise initiatives. Examples could include e-mail blasts, news bulletins, internal competitions, posters, and new employee orientation materials. 1 year from application due date Submission of WasteWise Assessment Form for 2007 WasteWise activities Submission of Awards Application Form Submission of a written statement of 5 pages or less addressing the evaluation criteria 'HE AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2008 ------- Paper Reduction: This Award recognizes a Partner who reduces paper use and increases paper recycling through sustainable and comprehensive program initiatives. Activities should go beyond duplex copying, procurement of recycled content paper, or implementation of general office paper collection programs. Organic Material Reduction: This Award recognizes a Partner who initiates the recycling, reuse, marketing, and utilization of organic materials such as yard waste and food scraps. Climate Change: This Award recognizes a Partner who achieves significant GHG reductions through waste prevention and recycling activities. The program also should include a focus on the relationship between waste reduction and climate change. Product Stewardship: This Award recognizes a Partner who reduces a product's life-cycle environmental impact. This can include designing a product to use less resources, toxics, or energy; to be more reusable, upgradeable, or recyclable; or to make sure that its environmental impacts are reduced or eliminated (as much as possible) during manufacture, use, and end- of-life management. In addition, efforts should ensure that the product is properly recovered and recycled at the end of its useful life. Industrial Material Recycling: This Award recognizes a Partner who beneficially uses industrial materialssome of which include coal combustion products, construction and demolition materials, foundry sand, slag, and gypsumin practical applications. Building Applications - Using industrial materials in the construction or renovation of green buildings. For example, using coal fly ash in concrete for a building's foundation or using the old concrete as a source of aggregate material. * Transportation Applications - Using industrial materials in the construction of roads and other pavement surfaces, bridges, and embankments. For example, using coal fly ash, slag, or foundry sand in road embankments and flowable fill. » Agricultural/Horticultural Applications - Using industrial materials as a manufactured soil or agricultural amendment. For example, using boiler wood ash as an agricultural liming material. Public Venue Recycling: This Award recognizes a Partner who implements long- and short-term recycling collection programs in public spaces and at events that take place outside of the home or workplace. Venues include stadiums, park and recreation facilities, festivals, and malls. Recycling in the Workplace: This Award recognizes a Partner who demonstrates the implementation of a comprehensive recycling program in the workplace. Collection programs should be multi-material (e.g., plastic and glass bottles, cans, paper) with an emphasis on direct participation by employees. Program elements also should include on-going employee education, outreach efforts, training, and a measurement component. Public Venue Recycling: This Award recognizes a Partner who implements meaningful changes in the design, sourcing, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials for primary, secondary, or transport packaging. Key elements could include responsible sourcing of packaging materials, optimization of resources and energy, positive influence on suppliers or consumers, and effective recovery of the packaging after its useful life. Community Involvement: This Award recognizes a Partner for hosting, participating in, or supporting community activities linked to waste reduction. Applicants for the Gold Achievement Awards can choose to apply in any of the categories named above or designate an additional category with a different focus. Applicants may apply in more than one Gold Achievement Award category. EPA will review and consider adding all additional categories that are submitted. EVALUATION CRITERIA Applicants for Gold Achievement Awards will be evaluated on criteria such as: Education and outreach Innovation/creativity Impact on sustainable Expenditure reductions/ Amount of waste reduced development investments reductions . Intemal and external promotion * Environmental leadership Commitment to waste reduction 'HE AWARDS APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2008 ------- |