Playing host as NSW’s most sustainable city

The Northern Beaches played host today to the Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) NSW 2021 Sustainable Cities Awards, and it was a great chance to showcase the environmental work Council and the community has been doing.

The Northern Beaches had the incredible honour of hosting the KAB awards after being crowned “Overall 2020 Sustainable Cities” award winners, thanks to a huge team effort from Council, local schools, businesses and community groups. Our winning effort came from 12 applications with eight of those awarded Winner or Highly Commended.

From Seaforth Public School taking out the School Environmental Achievement Award for their Kitchen Garden program to AUSMAP winning the Coastal and Waterways Protection Award for their work in reducing litter, it was amazing to see the dedication across the community to protecting this extraordinary place we call home. Council also won the Recycled Organics and Environmental Communications Awards, and was joint winner of the Response to Climate Change Award. 

Since winning the award, Council, local community groups and businesses’ dedication to the environment has remained unwavering. A lot of great work has happened since 2020 – here’s a quick snapshot of what Council’s been working on.

Progressed to Silver member status of the NSW State Government’s Sustainability Advantage Program and won the Cities Power Partnership Renewable Energy Achievement AwardReduced Council’s corporate emissions by around 80% since signing a renewable electricity contract from January 2021Reached over 900 Kilowatts of solar installed on our Council buildingsEngaged in great partnerships to deliver a community battery trial and a free electric vehicle charging stationWe’re diverting more waste from landfill (from 49% of domestic waste in 2018/19 to 65% in 2020/21)Our Swap for Good program supported local businesses during the pandemic to find COVID-safe ways to use reusable coffee cups and delivered more than 550 swap cups to local cafes, diverting more than 110,000 cups from landfill for the yearCouncil launched the Northern Beaches Reuse and Recycle Map and Waste Dashboard to help residents to reduce waste and know more about their waste footprint. 

Our sincere congratulations go to all the successful Councils in all categories and in particular to City of Canada Bay for winning the 2021 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Overall Sustainable Cities Award. Congratulations to all of the nominees for doing their best to protect our environment.