Byron Shire Council's efforts to reduce single-use food and beverage containers caught the eye of the judges in the 2026 NSW Tidy Towns Awards.
The Tidy Towns awards celebrate organisations and individuals who make their communities a better place.
Council's mobile dishwashing trailer was named the winner of the Plastic Free Communities section.
The dishwashing trailer was born from Council's desire to phase out single-use food and beverage packaging at events on Council-managed land.
In 12 months, at the Byron Farmers Market alone, the mobile dishwashing trailer has reused an estimated 100,000 dishes and reduced land fill waste from eight wheelie bins a week to half a bin.
Similar on-site washing systems are in place at the Bangalow, Mullumbimby and New Brighton farmers markets, and larger community markets in Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads are diverting up to 10,000 items a month from landfill as part of other reuse systems.
Danielle Hanigan, Manager Waste and Resource Recovery, said the much of the success of the program is a result of the community, and market operators, wanting to embrace a more sustainable approach in their lives and business.
"Several years ago, Council identified that single-use takeaway packaging accounted for about 40 per cent of litter in the Byron Shire and around 50 percent of the waste in public bins," Ms Hanigan said.
"These items end up in our creeks and rivers, and in the ocean, and that's having a terrible impact on marine life as well as birds and animals.
"So we decided to lead change by showing what is possible with determination and a steadfast commitment to reducing landfill waste," she said.
"To be recognised for our efforts on the Tidy Towns stage is just great and I acknowledge the wonderful partnerships we have with our market operators who are determined to make a difference and show others what is possible," Ms Hanigan said.
Byron Shire Council was also recognised in the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation section. Council's investment in five new electric vehicles as part of its EV Transition to Net Zero was awarded a Highly Commended.
