City hopes to clean up tidy awards

Bunbury is vying for a clean sweep at the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities awards after being named a finalist in several categories.

In the biggest coup for the city, it is nominated for the overall award alongside Albany, Esperance, Greenbushes, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Port and South Hedland.

The city is also a finalist in the categories of Litter Prevention and Waste Management, General Appearance, Youth Legends and Environmental Sustainability.

The awards recognise and reward regional and remote communities that take positive action to protect and enhance their environment.

Mayor Gary Brennan said the finalist nod was a boon for Bunbury and its reputation as a great place to live, work, play and visit.

“Our waste services team does an exceptional job in educating the community about our three bins system and it has paid off with residents diverting on average 60 per cent of their waste from landfill,” Mr Brennan said.

“Other initiatives by the city have ensured our natural environment is protected and is always looking presentable to locals and visitors alike.”

Keep Australia Beautiful WA chairman Michael Aspinall commended the diversity, reach and depth of initiatives submitted for recognition in the iconic awards.

“Judges have taken into consideration the diverse nature of projects entered and reports from the judges to communities highlight the impact of projects,” he said.

“I congratulate all entrants in this year’s awards for making positive environmental, social and economic changes in planning for a sustainable future through projects to better manage litter, waste and recycling, conserve water and energy and protect our natural habitats.”

The winners will be announced at an awards event in Perth on October 25.