Collaboration and Innovation Awards


The Waste 2026 Collaboration and Innovation Awards recognise practical projects that are delivering real improvements in waste and resource recovery across Australia. 

With two categories, these awards acknowledge both the value of working together and the impact of strong individual initiatives.

Outstanding Collaborative Project: Recognises a project delivered through collaboration between two or more councils or regional waste groups, where shared effort and joint delivery have led to clear and measurable outcomes.

Outstanding Individual Project: Recognises a project led by a single council or regional waste group that demonstrates effective planning, delivery, and positive outcomes for the community and environment.

Nominations close Friday 13 March 2026.

Announcement of the winner and presentation of the award will take place at the Waste 2026 Conference in Coffs Harbour, on Wednesday 13th May.  To honour each category winner, the conference organisers will make a donation to a charity chosen by the winner.

Category 1: Outstanding Collaborative Project

Recognising a waste or resource-recovery project delivered collaboratively by two or more local councils, or through a regional waste group.

This award celebrates initiatives that demonstrate strategic cooperation, shared planning, and measurable benefits that could not have been achieved by a single council. Entries should highlight the strength of partnership, clarity of objectives, and the value delivered across participating communities.

Eligible projects may include (but are not limited to):

  • Joint tenders and procurement arrangements
  • Shared waste collection or processing services
  • Regional waste infrastructure or facility upgrades
  • Cross-council audits, data programs or system reviews
  • Regional strategies, policies or circular economy initiatives
  • Collaborative approaches to contamination reduction, PFAS management, or C&I/C&D recovery

Category 2: Outstanding Individual Project

Recognising a waste, resource-recovery or waste-education initiative delivered by local government.

This award highlights initiatives that demonstrate clear community benefit, strong environmental outcomes, and innovative approaches.

Eligible projects may include (but are not limited to):

  • FOGO education and rollout programs
  • Behaviour-change campaigns for households, schools or businesses
  • Localised contamination reduction initiatives
  • Waste avoidance, circular economy or reuse programs
  • On-the-ground improvements to waste services or community facilities
  • Community workshops, events or engagement activities
  • Innovative use of branding, communications or digital tools

Nominating criteria and instructions

  • Nominating for the Collaboration and Innovation Awards is free and must be submitted using the online portal prior to COB Friday 13th of March 2026.
  • Submission must be on the correct template with all required information completed.
  • Once the submission deadline has passed, applications cannot be edited in any way. Partially completed nominations will not be accepted or reviewed and will be deemed invalid.
  • Nominators agree that any information submitted in the application can be used for marketing purposes by Impact Environmental. Confidential Information should be not submitted or if confidential information is imperative to the submission, it must be clearly identified within the documentation.
  • Any supporting documentation will need to be ready to upload at the time of submission and will not be able to be sent separately.
  • All nominations must be accompanied by a high-resolution logo of the Council/Regional Waste Group (at least 1MB in size) suitable for print publication.
  • Three finalists in each category will be notified approximately 4 weeks prior to the conference.
  • All finalists are required to have a representative attend the Coffs Waste Conference on Wednesday 13th May when the winners will be announced.

Submit Nomination

Contact us

Amelia Flynn:   0474 629 908     amelia@impactenviro.com.au 

Connie Button:  0431 749 747    connie@impactenviro.com.au