Brisbane’s sustainability champions are set to be recognised in the 2023 WasteSMART Brisbane Awards.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner encouraged residents to nominate individuals, organisations and businesses from their local community who go above and beyond with their waste-smart activities to help keep Brisbane clean, green, and beautiful.
“Our WasteSMART Awards are now in their seventh year and recognise Brisbane’s unsung heroes who help keep Brisbane clean and green,” Cr Schrinner said.
“We are excited to announce nominations will be open as of Monday 17 July, with nine award categories to choose from.
“Nominate a friend, neighbour or a local business doing their part in helping keep our streets clean and committing to waste prevention and reduction.”
Last year’s 2022 WasteSMART Councillors’ Choice Award winner, 89-year-old Peter Garland, played his part in being waste-smart by collecting and packing more than 10,000 pairs of glasses to donate to vulnerable communities in Australia and overseas through the Lion’s International’s Recycle for Sight program.
Peter also works with local optometrists and other shops selling glasses, creating drop off boxes and then collecting them, keeping the glasses out of landfill and recycling them for future use.
Cr Schrinner said Peter was an inspirational example to others in his quest to reduce waste in Brisbane, with a record number of nominations being sent through last year.
“There are so many community members in Brisbane doing their part in undertaking work which actively encourages sustainability, and we saw this through our record 397 nominations received last year!” he said.
“We want to recognise these individuals and groups going above and beyond to keep Brisbane beautiful and we think we can beat last year’s record nominations this time around.
“Nominations close Saturday 2 September and we look forward to announcing the winners on Thursday 16 November at the awards ceremony at City Hall.”
For more information on WasteSMART awards or to nominate someone today, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘WasteSMART Brisbane Awards’.
