Murrumbidgee Council’s 2023 Waste to Art initiative won the coveted Communication & Engagement Award at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2023 Tidy Towns Awards for populations between 1,501 and 5,000.
The project featured artistic designs from reused and recyclable materials.
Mayor Ruth McRae said she was pleased with the initiative’s success and the positive impact it had on promoting sustainable waste practices and challenging attitudes about things that may have otherwise been thrown away.
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW CEO Val Southam said the commitment of the councils, organisations and individuals who entered is evident in the calibre of the entries received this year and she congratulated this year’s winners and finalists and everyone that entered.
The Waste to Art competition and ensuing exhibition were integral components in the council’s holistic campaign to foster long-term changes in waste management behaviour and attitude.
Cr McRae said the initiative aligned perfectly with the council-wide introduction of organic waste collection and recycling for Jerilderie in July this year.
The competition attracted 70 entries, which were then exhibited over a number of weeks, touring the council’s three communities.
During the submissions period, workshops were held across the communities to assist locals with the creative process.
Winners in the competition were as follows:
Preschool and primary school division - Ryder Billing with ‘Prime Eagle’, 1; Milla Rorato with ‘Winter Blooms’ and Coleambally Preschool and Long Day Centre’s ‘I Made Pink Paper’, highly commended.
High School and community division - Travis Lawton’s ‘Long Horns’ and Heather Goudie’s ‘Nestling’s Feedtime’, equal 1; Gail Hibbert’s ‘Flying High’ and Bridgett McNeilly’s ‘Wasted Fortune’, highly commended.
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