About 100 people attended the awards ceremony at Drysdale Restaurant, which recognised 11 innovative waste management projects across the state’s north.

An initiative of the Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group, the awards celebrate the efforts of schools and organisations working to improve waste management practices. 

In the not for profit category George Town Neighbourhood House, Interweave Arts and Self Help Workshop Inc were all named winners, while Plastic Free Launceston won the community group category. 

Trevallyn, Riverside and Youngtown primary schools were also recognised in the primary school category, while St Helens and Scottsdale high schools were named winners of the secondary school category. 

Justwaste Consulting and TP Jones and Co were both named winners in the organisation category. 

Waste and environment officer Jessica Nesbit said the awards were a celebration and an acknowledgement of the hard work being done to reduce waste in the community. 

“It is about raising awareness, but also about recognising everyone who is making an effort to reduce waste,” she said. 

“We want these awards to inspire more people to help make a difference.

“This was our biggest year by far, which I think shows the change in attitudes towards reducing waste and understanding the difference even small changes can make.”