The top performers in Western Australia's recycling and waste industry were celebrated last night at the 2022 WasteSorted Awards.
Each year, the WasteSorted Awards acknowledge innovative solutions to reduce waste and celebrate the champions whose efforts assist with achieving the targets in Western Australia's Waste Strategy.
This year, 38 finalists competed across 10 categories, showcasing the achievements of individuals, businesses, government, schools, community organisations and not-for-profits.
Two new categories were included in 2022, recognising the important efforts of local governments and waste avoidance at events.
Some of the category winners include:
- Boddington RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) won the Community Waste Award for a large-scale community recycling initiative repurposing waste plastic into local artwork and park benches.
- The City of Wanneroo won the Waste Initiative of the Year for its Talking My Language Project, a multilingual educational toolkit to help people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds understand waste sorting and services.
- Workpower's Waste Team is a 120-person crew and won the 2022 Waste Award for its role in diverting 15,600 tonnes of waste per year via initiatives such as reuse shops, e-waste collections and recycling of hair salon waste.
Gordon Bateup was named the 2022 Waste Champion for his program GreenChair, which repurposes unwanted furniture from businesses to not-for-profit organisations, charities and community groups. Under the program, more than 123,500 kilograms of commercial furniture has been diverted from landfill in under two years.
More information on the WasteSorted Awards and the full list of winners and finalists can be found on Waste Authority's website at www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"The WasteSorted Awards recognise individuals and organisations that go the extra mile to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.
"The competition was highly competitive and each of the winners serve as an example of the gold standard in waste reduction initiatives.
"Reducing waste provides social and economic benefits by increasing employment opportunities and encouraging community action.
"I commend each of the 2022 winners and finalists for their role in contributing to the State Government's target of having at least 75 per cent of waste generated in Western Australia reused or recycled by 2030."
2022 WasteSorted Awards Category winners
Community Waste Award
Winner: Boddington RRR
Highly Commended: Responsible Cafes
Commercial and Industrial Waste Award
Winner: DevelopmentWA / Lendlease / EarthCare - Alkimos Beach - Builders Waste Recycling Program
Highly Commended: Bateup Consulting (GreenChair)
Waste Management Award
Winner: WA Recycling
Highly Commended: Esperance Care Services
WA Regional Waste Award
Winner: Shire of East Pilbara
Highly Commended: Boddington RRR
Highly Commended: East Kimberley Job Pathways - Containers for Change
Waste Champion
Winner: Gordon Bateup
Local Government Award
Winner: Western Metropolitan Regional Council/Resource Recovery Group - GREAT Games & School Waste Education Day
Highly Commended: City of Albany - FOGO Implementation
Waste Team
Winner: Workpower's Waste Team
Highly Commended: Brookfield Place Perth - Breaking the Plastic Habit
Highly Recommended: Give Write
Waste Innovation Award
Winner: Town of Cambridge - E-Waste Drop off Days
WasteSorted School Award
Winner: Beeliar Primary School
Highly Commended: Hillcrest Primary School
Highly Commended: Koorda Primary School
Waste Avoidance (Events) Award
Winner: Town of East Fremantle
Waste Initiative of the Year
Winner: City of Wanneroo -Talking My Language Project
Waste Award
Winner: Workpower's Waste Team