November 14th, 2023

The Murrumbidgee Council has been awarded the coveted Communication & Engagement Award at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2023 Tidy Towns Awards

The award was for towns with a population between 1,501 and 5,000 and.Mayor Ruth McRae said she was delighted with the news of the award for the 2023 Waste to Art initiative, which featured artistic and imaginative designs from reused and recyclable materials.

Councillor McRae said Council was extremely 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 and tossed away.

CEO of KAB NSW 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, finalists, and everyone else that entered.

The Waste to Art competition and ensuing exhibition were essential 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.

“It served as our flagship communication tool in the campaign to improve the way waste is managed in our area. Importantly, it also served to foster artistic and cultural excellence and community cohesion,” she said.