Shoalhaven's Reclaimed Water Management Scheme (REMS) took out the top gong in the Water Management awards section, while the glass recycling facility took out the Transitioning to a Circular Economy section.

Both projects won their individual sections for populations of 70,000 plus and then took out the overall section wins in the 14 category event.

LGNSW President Linda Scott each year NSW councils invest around $1.7 billion in environmental management collectively and the awards recognise and celebrate their achievements in managing and protecting the environment.

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Held annually, the awards in 2021 celebrate 24 years of inspiration from NSW councils in programs and projects.

The $110 million REMS (1B works) is one of the largest, more complex water recycling schemes undertaken by a local water utility.

Following the success of the first stage, which was commissioned in 2002, stage 1B works were initiated and included major upgrades to Bomaderry and Nowra wastewater treatment plants, construction of a dedicated reclaimed water transfer main beneath the Shoalhaven River, extensions to the existing REMS distribution network, as well as UV disinfection upgrades to the original works.

The upgrades have resulted in more treated effluent being reclaimed for beneficial reuse, and significantly less effluent being directed to the Shoalhaven River and associated waterways.

The REMS water is used in the irrigation process for a number of local dairy farms and sporting facilities.

Realising reject glass fines from co-mingled Material Recycling Facitlities (MRFs) was becoming an increasing problem, Shoalhaven Council saw an opportunity to focus on this "legacy" glass and design a system to recover this material and return it to a circular economy.

In January 2020, the council began laying the slab for an in-house designed glass processing plant at its recycling and waste facility in West Nowra.

Commissioned in May 2021, the washed glass sand has attracted interest from multiple customers, with more than 1800 tonnes returned to the circular economy in the first nine weeks of operation

Wollongong City Council's ambitious strategy of uniting entire operational efforts to ensure the region's long term environmental sustainability earned it one of the state's top annual environment awards taking out the LGNSW Excellence in the Environment Awards' Local Sustainability Award.

Full awards winners were -

Asbestos Management

Division C highly commended: Penrith City Council

Division C overall winner: Randwick City Council

Transitioning to a Circular Economy

Division C highly commended: Sutherland Shire Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Shoalhaven City Council

Behaviour Change in Waste

Division A highly commended: Forbes Shire Council

Division B highly commended: Strathfield Municipal Council

Division C highly commended: Blacktown City Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Randwick City Council

Water Management

Division B winner: Wollondilly Shire Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Shoalhaven City Council

Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement: On-Ground Works

Division B winner: Strathfield Municipal Council.

Division C highly commended: Tweed Shire Council.

Division C and overall winner: Central Coast Council.

Invasive Species Management

Division A winner and overall category winner: Hilltops Council

Division B winner: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

Division C winner: Fairfield City Council

Roadside Environmental Management

Division C winner and overall category winner: Penrith City Council

Innovation in Planning, Policies and Decision Making

Division A winner: Singleton Council

Division B winner: Wagga Wagga City Council

Division C highly commended: Randwick City Council

Division C and overall category winner: City of Sydney Council

Communication, Education and Empowerment

Division A winner: Muswellbrook Shire Council

Division B and overall category winner: Byron Shire Council

Division C highly commended: Blue Mountains City Council and Parramatta River Catchment Group

Division C winner: Penrith City Council

Climate Change Adaption

Division C highly commended: Cumberland City Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Waverley Council

Towards Net Zero Emissions

Division A winner: Lachlan Shire Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Randwick City Council

Sustainable Infrastructure

Division A winner and overall category winner: Lachlan Shire Council

Division C winner: Central Coast Council

Local Sustainability

Division C highly commended: Northern Beaches Council

Division C winner and overall category winner: Wollongong City Council

Louise Petchell Memorial Award for Individual Sustainability

Zaman Shamsuz, Randwick City Council

Note:

Division A - population under 30,000;

Division B - population 30,000-70,000;

Division C - population 70,000-plus