Circular Arizona Awards

Circular Arizona celebrates and recognizes individuals, organizations, schools, municipalities, and businesses demonstrating outstanding leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in advancing Arizona's circular economy.

Geographic Scope: Arizona

Business Awards

• Small Business of the Year: Organizations demonstrating circular economy principles and sustainability innovation
• Large Business of the Year: Major institutions showing institutional circular leadership and systems-level change

Organizational & Municipal Awards

• Nonprofit of the Year: Organizations advancing circular economy through education or operations
• Municipality of the Year: Cities leading comprehensive circular systems and waste diversion
• School of the Year: Schools integrating circular economy education and practices

Individual Honors

• Individual of the Year: People demonstrating significant contributions to circular economy advancement
• Lifetime Member Recognition: Board members and long-term advocates with sustained impact

Selection Criteria:

• Leadership and innovation in circular economy practices
• Measurable impact on waste reduction or circularity
• Dedication and commitment to sustainability
• Systems-level or scalable approaches
• Community engagement and education
• Alignment with circular economy principles

Eligibility:

• Award winners do NOT need to be Circular Arizona members
• ONLY Circular Arizona members can submit nominations
• Open to schools, municipalities, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals across Arizona

2026 Award Winners:

• Individual of the Year: Sibia Torres Padilla ("Sibster") - reuse and upcycling educator
• Large Business of the Year: Mayo Clinic Arizona - healthcare sustainability leadership
• Municipality of the Year: City of Flagstaff - zero waste leadership
• Nonprofit of the Year: The Children's Museum of Phoenix - circular education
• School of the Year: Tucson Unified School District & UofA School Garden Workshop - composting initiative
• Small Business of the Year: The Bra Recyclers - textile reuse and social equity
• Lifetime Member: Alexis Yaple - board leadership and governance

Contact Information:

• Email: hello@circulararizona.org
• Website: circulararizona.org/Awards
• Address: 24 W. Camelback Rd. Suite A-492, Phoenix, AZ 85013

How to Nominate

1. Membership Requirement for Nominators: Must be a Circular Arizona member to submit nominations
- Learn more about membership at CircularArizona.org/Join

2. Nomination Access: Visit CircularArizona.org/Awards

3. Nomination Materials: Submit information about the nominee including:
- Name and organization/affiliation
- Award category
- Description of accomplishments and impact
- Specific examples of circular economy leadership or innovation
- Measurable outcomes or contributions
- Community engagement and influence

4. Submission Deadline: Nominations close on the specified annual deadline (typically October 1st) at 11:59 p.m.

5. Selection Process:
- Nominations reviewed by selection committee
- Recipients announced in the following year
- Awardees recognized at Circular Arizona's Annual Meeting

6. Recognition: Award recipients are honored at the Annual Meeting with physical awards crafted from recycled materials

Timeline

• Nominations open in June for the following year's awards
• Deadline: October 1st at 11:59 p.m.
• Winners announced in February
• Recognition and celebration at Annual Meeting in February