Key Facts:
- Six regional towns shortlisted for the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards: Williams (WA), Ikuntji (NT), Orange (NSW), Mornington Peninsula (VIC), Huon Valley (TAS), and Cloncurry (QLD)
- TOMRA Cleanaway is the national sponsor of the awards, supporting community-driven environmental initiatives
- The awards ceremony is being held in Launceston, Tasmania, on 16 May 2026, hosted by the 2025 national winner
- The programme has recognised environmental leadership and sustainability innovation for over five decades
- Awards celebrate local initiatives in waste reduction, resource recovery, biodiversity protection and community engagement
Six regional communities have been named as finalists for the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards, one of Australia's most celebrated titles, at an awards ceremony in Launceston, Tasmania, on Saturday, 16 May 2026.
TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to be the national sponsor of the awards that recognise outstanding community-led environmental leadership for more than five decades.
Held in Launceston, the 2026 National Awards bring together communities from across Australia, with each of the finalists representing the very best of their state or territory, and has demonstrated excellence in environmental stewardship, sustainability innovation, and local pride:
- Williams, Western Australia
- Ikuntji, Northern Territory
- Orange, New South Wales
- Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
- Huon Valley, Tasmania
- Cloncurry, Queensland
CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, James Dorney, said that as the national sponsor, they are honoured to support an awards program that celebrates practical, community-driven action to protect the environment and build cleaner, more sustainable places to live.
"TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to stand alongside Keep Australia Beautiful in recognising communities that are taking meaningful action for a cleaner, more sustainable Australia.
"Programs like Tidy Towns demonstrate the power of local initiatives to create lasting environmental and social impact. We are delighted to support the 2026 national awards and to celebrate the achievements of communities across the country," Mr Dorney said.
For more than five decades, the Australian Tidy Towns program has recognised towns and cities that demonstrate excellence in environmental leadership, from waste reduction and resource recovery to biodiversity protection and community engagement.
This mission strongly aligns with TOMRA Cleanaway's commitment to advancing circular economy outcomes, improving resource recovery, and empowering communities to reduce waste and keep valuable materials in circulation. Through this sponsorship, TOMRA Cleanaway reinforces its commitment to working collaboratively with communities, governments, and organisations to drive positive environmental outcomes, today and for future generations.
Keep Australia Beautiful CEO Val Southam said that Tidy Towns are unique as they honour volunteers, local councils and passionate residents who show that through resilience and purpose, backed by strong leadership, real and lasting change can be delivered for the environment and the people who call these places home.
"The Tidy Towns Awards are a reminder that meaningful change often starts at the local level. Every finalist represents a community that has chosen to act, whether it's protecting waterways, reducing waste, engaging young people or preserving what makes their place unique. That collective commitment to a cleaner, kinder Australia is exactly what this program exists to celebrate," said Ms Southam.
The 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful National Tidy Towns Awards are hosted by the 2025 national Tidy Towns winner, Launceston. This Saturday night, all the finalists come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of communities from across Australia to announce the 2026 Category Winners and the prestigious Overall Australian Tidy Towns Award.
Images and local stories are available on request.
About us:
ABOUT TOMRA CLEANWAY
Working closely with government and businesses, TOMRA Cleanaway drives value through recycling. Our vision is to create a positive legacy in the jurisdictions in which we operate. TOMRA Cleanaway is an Australian industry leader in the delivery of container deposit networks with experience collecting and processing and recycling almost 18 billion single use drink containers, boosting local sustainability.
Our mission is leading the resource recovery revolution and making a sustainable future possible, resulting in TOMRA Cleanaway driving value through recycling. TOMRA Cleanaway delivers an agile service for container deposit networks, that reflects best practices and gives back to the community via a domestic circular economy.
