Champions of waste reduction and recycling have been recognised at this year's Infinity Awards.
The annual Waste Authority awards showcase the contributions of Western Australians who are leading the way to a lower waste future.
Workpower's Balcatta Re-use Shop, which provides employment opportunities for people with disability, took out two titles - Waste Initiative of the Year and Waste Team of the Year.
The shop, which turns trash to treasure, diverts almost 5,000 tonnes of waste from landfill every year.
Former Port Hedland mayor and founder of the Care for Hedland Environment Association, Kelly Howlett was awarded the WA Waste Award for 2018 for her hands-on work promoting a litter free community and encouraging recycling and sustainability.
Carnarvon-based environmental entrepreneur Joanne Bumbak was named 2018 Waste Champion - producing preserves and ice cream from 36 tonnes of 'rescued' fruit and vegetables which would otherwise have been dumped in landfill.
Plastic Free July Foundation took out the Community Waste Award for its Plastic Free July Challenge, which this year saw 3.4 million people worldwide pledge to live without plastic for a month.
Mindarie Regional Council won the Waste Innovation of the Year title for its Face Your Waste transparent kerbside bin campaign - showing the scale of household waste.
Other winners included Subiaco-based, waste-free restaurant New Normal Bar + Kitchen and Southern Metropolitan Regional Council and the City of Melville for the successful rollout of its trial of a food organics and garden organics three-bin recycling system.
Schools were also recognised for their significant contribution to waste education throughout the State.
Hillcrest Primary School was named Waste Wise School of the Year, and Year 12 Presbyterian Ladies' College student Sacha Winter was recognised for leading sustainability initiatives to dramatically reduce the amount of waste produced by her school.
ABC journalist Lisa Morrison won the Media Award for a series of reports that localised the popular War on Waste national campaign.
As noted by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Congratulations to all the winners at this year's Infinity Awards.
"I am inspired by all the amazing waste reduction stories and projects and the way you have motivated others to own your impact.
"There was a record-breaking number of nominations for this year's awards from organisations and individuals waging WA's war against waste.
"Working together, the Government, Waste Authority and community of Western Australia make a formidable team when it comes to changing behaviour to divert waste from landfill, reduce, reuse and recycle."
Minister's office - 6552 5800
2018 Infinity Award recipients
WA Waste Award 2018
Winner: Kelly Howlett
WA Waste Initiative of the Year 2018
Winner: Workpower - Balcatta Reuse Shop
Category 1: Avoid Recover Protect - Community Waste Award
Winner: Plastic Free July Foundation (Plastic Free July Challenge)
Highly commended: Total Green Recycling
Commended: City of Cockburn
Category 2: Avoid Recover Protect - Commercial and Industrial Waste Award
Winner: New Normal Bar + Kitchen
Highly commended: Crown Perth (Recycle 90 Program)
Commended: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (Operating Theatre 'Anaesthetic Waste Showcased')
Category 3: Avoid Recover Protect - Waste Management Award
Winner: Southern Metropolitan Regional Council and City of Melville (Three-bin Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Trial)
Highly commended: Waste and Recycling Industry Association of WA, Cleanaway WA, Southern Metropolitan Regional Council, SUEZ WA and Western Australian Local Government Association (Statewide Guidelines for Kerbside Recycling)
Commended: Shire of Collie (FOGO Kerbside Collection System)
Category 4: 2018 Waste Champion
Winner: Joanne Bumbak
Highly commended: Pam Van Effrink
Commended: Lindsay Miles
Category 5: 2018 Young Waste Achiever
Winner: Sacha Winter (17) - Presbyterian Ladies' College
Highly commended: Nina Prado (8), and Amelie Harrison (8) - Perth College Junior School
Category 6: Waste Team of the Year
Winner: Workpower Balcatta Reuse Shop Team
Highly commended: Wasteless Pantry
Highly commended: City of Cockburn Waste Team
Category 7: Waste Innovation of the Year
Winner: Mindarie Regional Council (Face Your Waste Clear Bins)
Highly commended: City of Joondalup (Ocean Reef Fish Cleaning and Waste Management Station)
Highly commended: SpiderWaste Collection Services
Category 8: Waste Wise School of the Year
Winner: Hillcrest Primary School
Highly commended: Lynwood Senior High School
Highly commended: Santa Maria College
Category 9: Media Award
Winner: Lisa Morrison
Highly commended: Emma Young
