Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) is pleased to announce Penrith City Council as the overall winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2023 Sustainable Cities Awards.
Running since 1994, these awards recognise and support the achievements of councils and their communities who are actively working towards making Sydney a model for sustainable practices.
In addition to the overall trophy, Penrith also took out the Circular Economy Award for its Recycled Coffee Cups in Road Base project.
The award was presented on October 12th at a KAB NSW function hosted by the previous year’s winner, Randwick City Council.
Layla McNeil, KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Assessor, observed that Penrith City Council has a long-running commitment to recycling and sustainability and continually encourages and educates residents, all while emphasising environmental benefits and fostering community engagement.
“Penrith’s Recycled Coffee Cups in Road Base project, Textile Drop-off Day, and Recycle Your Bicycle Drop-off and Repair Event collectively reflect the Council’s unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. Community spirit truly comes to life through WestCare’s Christmas Appeal, which receives overwhelming support from local businesses and provides joy and essential necessities to residents impacted by economic hardships. Additionally, Regentville Public School cultivates a sustainability-focused culture among its students, with initiatives like Nudie Tuesdays and Waste Free Wednesdays leaving a positive imprint,” said Ms. McNeil.
The awards programme and event were held with the support of Randwick City Council, the NSW EPA, Red Energy, and TerraCycle.
Val Southam, CEO of KAB NSW, said that these Sustainable Cities Awards inspire councils and communities to make a genuine and lasting contribution to their area and help build strong partnerships between local authorities, businesses, community groups, schools, and individuals.
“The commitment of the councils, organisations, and individuals who entered is evident in the calibre of the entries received this year, and I would like to congratulate this year’s winners and finalists and everyone that entered,” said Ms. Southam.