NWRA 鈥� Florida Chapter recently announced its 2025 Legislative Champions during the organization鈥檚 annual Legislative Fly-In.聽 Legislative Champion Awards were presented to individuals promoting legislation in support of the waste and recycling industry during Florida鈥檚 2025 legislative session.
Award winners included:
- Senator Stan McClain (R-Ocala) & Representative Richard Gentry (R-DeBary) were presented with a Legislative Award for their leadership in filing battery-safety legislation. The solid waste and recycling industry is experiencing a growing number of fires caused by improperly disposed batteries placed in household garbage and recycling bins, and their legislative efforts are critical to protecting workers, facilities, and communities.
- Senator Nick DiCeglie (R鈥揝t. Petersburg) and Representative Fiona McFarland (R鈥揝arasota) were honored for passing legislation that clarifies private solid waste and debris management service providers are not required to collect storm-generated yard trash, debris, or waste. The legislation also encourages local governments to add an addendum to existing contracts or franchise agreements to address the collection of storm-generated debris.
- Senator Bryan Avila (R鈥揌ialeah Gardens) and Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan (R鈥揓acksonville) were presented with a Legislative Award for their leadership in re-enacting the sales tax exemption for natural gas fuel. Without the legislation they championed, trucking fleets across Florida that operate on natural gas would have faced an immediate increase in fuel costs. Extending the exemption also encourages more companies to transition their fleets to alternative fuels, helping reduce the state鈥檚 carbon footprint.
- Senator Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) was honored for her proposed legislation on recycling.聽 The State of Florida has a statutory 75% recycling goal by 2020 that FDEP has acknowledged will not be met.聽The legislation directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study and create a plan on how to increase recycling.聽 NWRA FL Chapter supports new realistic recycling goals that are environmentally and economically sustainable.
- Representative Meg Weinberger (R鈥揥est Palm Beach) 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.
鈥淥ur Legislative Champions always love their unique awards featuring a garbage truck,鈥� said Keyna Cory, NWRA鈥檚 government affairs representative in Florida.聽 鈥淭his year鈥檚 awards were made in the USA of recycled materials and represent our member companies鈥� commitments providing safe, sustainable waste and recycling services.鈥�