Council projects on waste avoidance, resource recovery and waste education were among 16 winners recognised for environmental excellence at the Local Government NSW’s (LGNSW) Environment Awards.
Held in Sydney on 29 November, the LGNSW Environment Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by local government in managing and protecting the environment.
Four metropolitan and six regional councils took awards, along with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), Midwaste, and the Sydney Peri Urban Network.
The event recognised several councils for work in the waste and resource recovery space. MIDWASTE won the Communication, Education and Empowerment category for its Frugal Forest project, an intricately detailed forest installation created entirely from materials diverted from landfill that is used in a touring exhibition.
Broken Hill City Council took the Resource Recovery Award for increasing the amount of materials recovered after opening a Community Recycling Centre in November 2015.
The Waste Avoidance and Reuse Awards was taken by Parramatta City Council for its R3 program. Originally initiated to reduce waste from the relocation of the City’s main administration building and library in late 2015, the project saw about 70 ute loads of material diverted from landfill, while at the same time providing much needed resources to 52 schools, charities and community organisations.
Lachlan Shire Council won the Waste Education and Community Award for its communications during its recent waste services rationalisation program.
“The enormously high standard of entries is a clear illustration of the pivotal environmental management role played by local government in NSW,” said LGNSW President Keith Rhoades.
“Councils and their staff are responsible for a range of environmental essentials: from waste management, to parks and gardens maintenance, water management, and planning.
The 2016 awards had attracted 82 entries from 42 councils – a particularly strong result given the turmoil imposed on the local government sector by council amalgamations, Clr Rhoades added.
Clr Rhoades said LGNSW’s 2016 work on behalf of the sector had secured local government funding of more than $200 million for a range of environmental programs, including the Council Roadside Reserve Program, the Waste Less Recycle More initiative and asbestos awareness activities.
Details of all the winners and their projects are are listed on LGNSW’s website.
