Entries are now open for the Keep Australia Beautiful Council's (KABC) 2022 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards.
The annual awards, launched at a community clean-up event in Port Hedland, are available to all remote and regional communities, including cities, small towns and Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.
The launch of the awards with Care For Hedland demonstrates the relationship between KABC and regional communities. Port Hedland and South Hedland won the inaugural Containers for Change award last year for most effectively using the 10-cent container deposit scheme refunds.
The awards are open to all regional and remote communities. Submitted projects must show how they have contributed towards the sustainability of the community, effective litter prevention activities, positive environmental outcomes and projects that reflect heritage, culture and community engagement.
Last year, Boddington took top honours as WA's overall State winner, thanks to its quirky art, and environmental and heritage community projects such as the community recycling plant, restoration of the Marradong Church and partnerships to improve the health of the Hotham River.
Award categories are:
- Litter Prevention & Waste Management;
- Containers for Change;
- Young Legends;
- Environmental Sustainability;
- Environmental Education;
- Heritage & Culture;
- Community Action & Wellbeing;
- General Appearance; and
- Leadership Award.
On October 1, 2020, the WA Government introduced the 'Containers for Change Scheme' with the aim of reducing litter and increasing recycling rates in WA. The Containers for Change Award, sponsored by WA Return Recycle Renew Ltd, was introduced in the 2021 awards to recognise community impact in its first year of operation and will be included as an award category again in 2022.
For more information or to register online, visit the KABC website or email [email protected]
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Western Australian remote and regional communities are encouraged to enter their projects for these iconic awards.
"The 2022 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards highlight the incredible work being done by remote and regional communities to preserve the unique environment and heritage centres in their local areas."
