The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards recognize successful and innovative efforts that improve Virginia’s environment. The awards program is run annually by DEQ in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. There are five broad categories of awards: Environmental & Sustainability Program, Environmental & Sustainability Project, Land Conservation, Green Commonwealth, and implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan. Please note that each category has its own application.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024.  Winners will be announced at the 35th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium in April 2025.

Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award Categories:

• Environmental & Sustainability Program: Recognizes organizations or facilities that can document the success of their sustainability program which broadly addresses many aspects of environmental sustainability.
• Environmental & Sustainability Project: Recognizes activities directed at a single goal to improve the environment beyond what is required by regulation.
• Green Commonwealth: Recognizes activities that support Executive Order 17, Recognizing the Value of Recycling and Waste Reduction, through activities that promote at least one of the following: recognizing the value of recyclable material, making Virginia home to new clean technologies, or preventing food waste..
• Land Conservation: Recognizes exemplary land conservation work within the commonwealth supporting ConserveVirginia's efforts. 
• Virginia Outdoors Plan Implementation: Recognizes outdoor recreation accomplishments meeting the Virginia Outdoors Plan goals and objectives.   

To be considered, each applicant must have a record of sustained compliance.