Waste champions recognised at 2022 WasteSorted Awards

• Awards showcase projects that reduce waste, and promote reuse and recycling
• Over 100 nominations received, with 38 finalists across 10 categories
• Two new awards: Local Government Award and Waste Avoidance (Events) award 

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

Comments attributed to 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."

Minister's office - 6552 6300

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