Waste champions celebrated at 2023 WasteSorted Awards

• Awards showcase projects that help make landfill the last resort
• 37 finalists across 10 categories from over 100 nominations received

Achievements in our State's recycling and waste industry have been honoured at the 2023 WasteSorted Awards for helping Western Australians reduce waste going to landfill and recycle more.

The annual awards recognise the exceptional leaders and organisations driving change in pursuit of the goals of Western Australia's Waste Strategy.

This year, 37 finalists across 10 categories, from individuals, businesses, government, schools, community organisations and not-for-profits showcased their achievements in their bid to protect the environment, health and promote a circular economy.

A new category was introduced this year, recognising outstanding achievements in "Closing the Loop" by working towards a low waste and circular economy future.

The awards of excellence ranged from innovation in avoiding and diverting food waste to solutions for recovering value from e-waste and preventing construction material from going to landfill.  

Category award winners include:

• Community Waste Award - Repair Café Bassendean for free repair services to the community by fixing broken household items andavoiding resource consumption associated with buying replacement items.
• Inaugural Closing the Loop Award - Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation for collecting and recycling containers for bottled water while providing an employment pathway to jobseekers.
• Waste Award - Veolia Recycling and Recovery for using innovative technology in the collection, processing and composting of household waste while securing a viable end-to-end solution.
• 2023 Waste Champion - Samuel Thomas won the accolades for investing his time in repairing and refurbishing donated electronic technology, preventing over 28 tonnes from going to landfill in the past year.

The full list of winners and finalists and more information on the WasteSorted Awards is available here

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

"The WasteSorted awards are a positive way to recognise and celebrate the great work being done by individuals and organisations for their commitment to reducing waste generation, increasing recovery of valuable materials from waste, and protecting the environment.

"A huge congratulations to the impressive line-up of diverse finalists and winners for their projects across the State's waste sector. Each of them serves as an example of what can be achieved when we strive to make landfill the last resort.

"I commend the finalists and winners for their role in contributing to a more sustainable, low waste Western Australia."

2023 WasteSorted Awards Category winners

Community Waste Award

Winner: Repair Café Bassendean Inc

Highly Commended: Bottle Top Hill

Highly Commended: Perth City Farm

Schools Award

Winner: South Coogee Primary School

Highly Commended: Somerly Primary School

Business Award

Winner: DevelopmentWA

Highly Commended: Total Green Recycling Pty Ltd

Highly Commended: South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS)

Waste Champion Individual Award

Winner: Sam's Spares

Highly Commended: Bottle Top Hill

Highly Commended: The Feelgood Fashionista

Waste Champion Team Award

Winner: Esperance Care Services

Highly Commended: Boddington RRR

Metro Local Government/Regional Council Award

Winner: City of Fremantle

Highly Commended: East Metropolitan Regional Council

Regional Local Government/Regional Council Award

Winner: Shire of Northam

Community Engagement Award

Winner: City of Canning

Highly Commended: Town of East Fremantle

Innovation Award

Winner: Veolia Recycling & Recovery

Highly Commended: Mash Brewing

Closing the Loop Award

Winner: Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation

Highly Commended: Donut Waste

Waste Award

Veolia Recycling & Recovery