We’re delighted to have been recognised recently for a campaign to improve recycling and reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill on the Northern Beaches.

Our Bin it Right campaign won the Communication and Engagement award at the Keep Australia Beautiful 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards last week, with 12 other finalists from councils and organisations across NSW in the running.

Now in its 31st year, the Sustainable Cities Awards program recognises the powerful role that councils, community groups, businesses, schools and individuals play in creating cleaner, greener and more liveable cities.

Bin it Right first launched in late 2024 with a series of bold imagery and simple messaging aimed at reinvigorating residents understanding of recycling and waste separation in their household bins. 

Recognising that good intentions often are trumped by confusion of what can and can’t be recycled, the campaign highlighted what to do with most the commonly ‘misbinned’ items such as soiled food packaging, aerosols and batteries. 

The campaign’s messaging was a hit within the community and at the Awards. The campaign was praised for making recycling information accessible and memorable amongst residents and its strong creative execution.

The introduction of dedicated fishing tackle bins* across the Northern Beaches – a partnership between Council and OzFish - was also Highly Commended in the Litter Prevention category of the awards. The bins at key fishing spots aim to help fishers easily dispose of fishing-related litter such as hooks and lines to prevent harm to birds and aquatic animals.

Other local circular economy and litter reduction campaigns and recipients of Council’s Enviro Grants – Surfrider Northern Beaches Adopt a Beach and the junior eco warriors at Wheeler Heights Public School – were also recognised.  

Learn more here about how you can Bin it Right.

*Fishing tackle bins project was undertaken as part of NSW EPA funded Litter Prevention Project