The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Florida Chapter recently announced its 2025 Legislative Champions during the organization’s annual Legislative Fly-In. Legislative Champion awards were presented to individuals promoting legislation in support of the waste and recycling industry during Florida’s 2025 legislative session.
Local award winners included State Rep. Meg Weinberger and State Sen. Lori Berman.
Berman (D-District 26) was honored for her proposed legislation on recycling. The State of Florida has a statutory 75 percent recycling goal that Florida Department of Environmental Protection has acknowledged will not be met. The legislation directs the FDEP to conduct a study and create a plan on how to increase recycling. NWRA FL Chapter supports new, realistic recycling goals that are environmentally and economically sustainable.
Weinberger (R-District 94) received an award for her leadership on legislation related to incinerator siting. In the final week of session, she stood firm in rejecting late-filed amendments that had not been heard in committee and would have negatively impacted the solid waste and recycling industry.
Other honorees included:
- State Sen. Stan McClain of Ocala and State Rep. Richard Gentry of DeBary, who were presented with a legislative award for their leadership in filing battery-safety legislation.
- State Sen. Nick DiCeglie of St. Petersburg and State Rep. Fiona McFarland of Sarasota were honored for passing legislation that clarifies that private solid waste and debris management service providers are not required to collect storm-generated yard trash, debris or waste.
- State Sen. Bryan Avila of Hialeah Gardens and Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan of Jacksonville were presented with a legislative award for their leadership in re-enacting the sales tax exemption for natural gas fuel.
“Our Legislative Champions always love their unique awards featuring a garbage truck,” said Keyna Cory, NWRA’s government affairs representative in Florida. “This year’s awards were made in the USA of recycled materials and represent our member companies’ commitments providing safe, sustainable waste and recycling services.”
The National Waste & Recycling Association is the leading organization providing leadership, advocacy, research, education and safety expertise for the waste and recycling industries.
For more information, visit www.wasterecycling.org.
