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Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) has announced the finalists for the 2026 Sustainable Cities Awards, recognising sustainability initiatives, innovation and environmental achievement across metropolitan NSW.
The awards highlight how councils are embedding sustainability into their operations, services and planning, alongside the contributions of businesses, schools, community organisations and individuals working to improve their local environments.
From reducing waste and preventing litter to protecting biodiversity, responding to climate change and strengthening community participation, the program recognises initiatives that deliver practical environmental and social benefits.
KAB NSW Chief Executive Officer Val Southam said the awards provide an opportunity to recognise achievement and share approaches that other councils and organisations can learn from.
“Councils play an important role in creating more sustainable cities, through the services they deliver, the places they manage and the partnerships they build,” Ms Southam said.
“These awards recognise that leadership, alongside the valuable work of schools, businesses, community organisations and individuals.
“They also give successful initiatives a wider audience, helping others learn from the ideas, experience and commitment behind them. We congratulate all of this year’s finalists and look forward to celebrating their achievements.”
Established in 1994, the Sustainable Cities Awards recognise a broad range of sustainability achievements, reflecting the connections between environmental protection, community wellbeing and the liveability of our cities.
Winners, including the recipient of the Overall Sustainable Cities Award, will be announced at the 2026 Sustainable Cities Awards Luncheon on Thursday 12 November at Hornsby RSL.
The awards luncheon will be preceded by a morning seminar, “Closing the Loop: FOGO, Soft Plastics and the Circular Economy”, providing an opportunity for councils and other organisations to share experiences and explore practical approaches to waste reduction and recycling.
The KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Program and Event is made possible through the generous support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Red Energy and Hornsby Shire Council.
For more information about the awards please visit: https://www.kabnsw.org.au/awards/2026sustainablecitiesevent/
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2026 KAB NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Finalists
Biodiversity Conservation
- The Bayside Backyard Bee Network
Bayside Council - Greenin
Inner West Council - Gumbramorra Re-creation Project
Inner West Council - Protecting Biodiversity After Dark
Northern Beaches Council - Quarry to Canopy – Restoring Koala Habitat
Sutherland Shire Council
Circular Economy
- Florapeutic Flower Repurposing
Florapeutic - Hornsby Shire: Driving the Circular Economy
Hornsby Shire Council Waste Branch - Microfactorie Green Ceramics Project
Ismail Asad - Cromer Park Circular Turf Renewal
Northern Beaches Council - High-rise, High Reuse: Circular Textiles
Penrith City Council - CO2 Concrete
Western Sydney University
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Supporting Solar on Community Facilities
Lane Cove Council - Long Reef Coastal Resilience Boardwalk
Northern Beaches Council - Low Carbon Concrete Transformation
Northern Beaches Council - Caravan Park Preparedness Project
Penrith City Council - CO2 Concrete
Western Sydney University - Urban Forest Strategic Framework
Willoughby City Council
Communication and Engagement
- Inspiring our Community: Lucinda the Bin
City of Newcastle - Our Energy Future (OEF)
City of Parramatta - The Secret Life of Powerful Owls
Georgia Cameron & Michael Bianchino - Hawkesbury Litter Education & Engagement
Hawkesbury City Council - Empowering Communities for a circular future
Jo-Anne Allan, Project Officer Towards Zero Waste, Blue Mountains City Council - Sutherland Shire Future Now Expo
Karen Jones, Urban Futures, Sutherland Shire Council
Community Spirit and Inclusion
- Stay Cool Bayside
Bayside Council - The Green Reading Room: Nature Art & Stories
Bayside Council - Project Planet
Bayside Council - Thriving Hawkesbury: Beyond Resilience
Hawkesbury City Council - Growing Together
Sutherland Shire Council - CREATING A SUSTAINABLE HOSPITAL
The Auburn Hospital Sustainability Team
Heritage and Culture
- Stories on Parade: Bringing History to Life
Bayside Council
Litter Prevention
- Working Towards a Litter Free Canada Bay
City of Canada Bay - Butt Seriously: United Litter Management
Northern Beaches Council - Bunnerong Canal Litter Trap
NSW Ports - Sydney By Kayak Conservation Fund
Sydney By Kayak - Ground Swell – Litter Prevention
Take 3 for the Sea - Litter Summit & corporate engagement program
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Liveable Cities
- Stay Cool Bayside
Bayside Council - Canterbury Road Underpass Mural
Place Improvement Team CBCity - Trees as Assets: Transforming Urban Canopy
Sutherland Shire Council
Local Heroes
- Cameron Henery
Northern Beaches Council - Auburn Hospital Sustainability Team
The Auburn Hospital Sustainability Team
Plastic Free Communities
- SOY LONG TO SOY FISH INITIATIVE
Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches - Campbelltown is Brewing Change
Resource Recovery and Waste Team, Campbelltown City Council - Leading the way with Sustainable Events
Hawkesbury City Council
Resource Recovery
- Mattress Shredding and Recycling
Archana Maharjan & Ali Bilal - Turning food and garden waste into compost
Blacktown City Council - Chilly Findings: Fridge & Freezer Recycling
City of Ryde - Fighting Food Waste – One Bin at a Time
Lane Cove Council - On-demand home recycling with ReSmart
Waverley Council - CO2 Concrete
Western Sydney University
Waste Avoidance
- Angle Park remediation waste avoidance
Liverpool City Council - Towards Zero Waste Events
Erin Hall & Blue Mountains City Council - Liverpool City Council – Be SHARP Program
Kevin Tansey & Ali Bilal - Clothing, Toy, and Book Swap Events
Ku-ring-gai Council - CO2 Concrete
Western Sydney University
Waterways and Marine Protection
- Blacktown Council’s Waterway management plan
Camila Drieberg - Big plans for Little Creek masterplan
Camila Drieberg - Kookie’s Konservationists
Natalie Cooke - Smart Water Supply for Sports Fields
Northern Beaches Council - ADOPT A BEACH PROGRAM
Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches - Water Sensitive Wollondilly
Wollondilly Shire Council
Young Legends
- Young Eco-Warriors: Leading Change
Blacktown North Public School - Waste to Worth
Caddies Creek Public School - Junior Rangers Club
Ku-ring-gai Council - Green Team: sustainability team
Lethbridge Park Public School - Campbelltown’s Future Changemakers
Resource Recovery and Waste Team, Campbelltown City Council
Overall Sustainable Cities Award
- Bayside Council
- Campbelltown City Council
- Hawkesbury City Council
- Liverpool Council
- Northern Beaches Council
- Sutherland Shire Council
Contact Details
Val Southam, Chief Executive Officer KABNSW at ceo@kabnsw.org.au, t: 0419016401
EDITOR’S NOTE:
About the KABNSW Sustainable Cities Awards
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Program is a community and environmental awards program for metropolitan communities in NSW.
Since 1994, projects that not only enhance the environment but also improve the standard of living and well-being of urban communities have been a hallmark of the activities recognised by these awards.
The Sustainable Cities Awards inspire communities to make a genuine and lasting contribution to their area, with partnerships between local authorities, businesses, community groups, schools, and individuals.
About KAB NSW
Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KABNSW) is the state’s premier organisation for litter reduction and environmental sustainability. Independent and not-for-profit, our focus is to engage councils and communities to make NSW the least littered state in Australia, transforming littering behaviour to create a beautiful and more sustainable environment.
Over a 40-year history we have built a state-wide network of dedicated individuals, businesses, schools, community groups and government bodies striving to deliver a cleaner environment.
Through five core programs we work with communities across regional and metropolitan NSW to educate and motivate environmental initiatives