Each Brisbane City Councillor has the opportunity to nominate one local idea or activity that has made a real difference in their local community to waste prevention or reduction, recycling, education or litter prevention.

1 prize to the value of $350

The award is open to individuals. It recognises efforts related to waste prevention or reduction and education (such as reducing food waste, improving recycling and composting). This can include participating in established programs (e.g. 104 or More, Community Composting Hubs, Clean Up Australia Day) or innovations which contribute to a cleaner Brisbane.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is open to community groups. It recognises efforts related to waste prevention, reduction and education initiatives e.g. community engagement, awareness and education programs. This can include community collaboration in litter picking, landfill avoidance, reuse initiatives or other innovations.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award recognises efforts related to giving textiles a new life and keeping them in the circular economy. This could include upcycling, repurposing, recycling, prevention and education initiatives e.g. community engagement, awareness and education programs.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is open to businesses. It recognises Brisbane businesses who actively look for options to improve their waste management systems by introducing positive changes in resource recovery and a reduction of waste to landfill or businesses who are leading the industry in reduction, elimination and circular economy.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is to encourage and recognise implemented environmental initiatives in an early learning centre or Kindy that have a focus on litter reduction, waste management and education. This can include improving recycling systems, litter clubs, composting food waste or other innovations.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is to encourage and recognise implemented environmental initiatives in a school that has a focus on litter reduction, waste management and education. This can include improving recycling systems, litter clubs, composting food waste or other innovations. Outside school hours care and P&Cs are also eligible.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is open to the hospitality and tourism industry including hotels, venues, restaurants, cafes, tourism operators, food trucks, events and precincts. It recognises Brisbane businesses and organisations who actively look for options to improve their waste management systems by introducing positive changes in resource recovery and a reduction of waste to landfill through closed loop systems.

1 prize to the value of $350

This award is open to individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations. It recognises efforts in green waste recovery, recycling, and education programs. The award celebrates innovative awareness initiatives and projects that transform garden and park materials into valuable resources. This could include innovative composting, reuse of garden materials, smarter collection systems or programs that turns green waste into a valued resource.

1 prize to the value of $350

Recognising outstanding waste-smart endeavours which required a high proportion of volunteer effort. All finalists will automatically be entered into the ‘Outstanding’ WasteSMART Award category with the judging panel to determine the ultimate winner.

1 prize to the value of $350

The public is invited to vote for the one winner in this category. This category comprises all the finalists shortlisted by the judges across all categories.

1 prize to the value of $350

To recognise long-term commitment to waste prevention and reduction, which has occurred over at least the past three years and acknowledge the ongoing efforts of past winners. In order to be eligible the nominee must have won WasteSMART award or been awarded highly commended in the previous three years. The winner will be selected from the pool of finalists by the judges.

1 prize to the value of $350