Operational Excellence Award winner:

Tomra Cleanaway

TOMRA Cleanaway, led by CEO James Dorney, operates container deposit schemes across NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. Since 2017, the team has returned over 14.6 billion containers, reducing litter and avoiding an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂. Recognised as a 2025 AFR Sustainability Leader, TOMRA Cleanaway uses advanced sorting technology, digital innovation, and community partnerships to transform recycling, with over 1,000 collection points and nearly $86 million raised for charities.

Outstanding Facility of the Year Award winner:

IQRenew – SPEC Facility

iQRenew’s SPEC (Soft Plastics Engineered Commodity) facility represents Australia’s first at-scale, purpose-built infrastructure dedicated exclusively to processing 100% household soft plastics. Located near Taree, on the NSW mid coast, this $17+ million facility transforms Australia’s most challenging waste stream into three main products: spec pellets, spec flake and spec shred. Commissioned in July 2024 after five years of R&D development, SPEC processes 15,000 tonnes annually (expanding to 24,000 tonnes) with an exceptional 80% yield rate.

Outstanding WARR Project Metro Award winner:

Veolia – Veolia Earthpower Upgrade

The Earthpower Upgrade Project represents a major advancement in Sydney’s sustainable waste management. Led by Veolia, the project modernised anaerobic digestion technology to increase biogas production and eliminate the need for imported electricity. By turning food waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil conditioner, the initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to circular economy principles and environmental leadership.

Leader of the Year Award winner:

Darren Thorpe – Australian Paper Recovery

Darren Thorpe is the founder and Managing Director of Australian Paper Recovery (APR), a business built through grit, determination, and a drive to innovate the recycling industry. Since starting APR as a one-man operation in 2002, Darren has grown it into a leader in resource recovery, employing over 85 staff and servicing more than 3,000 customers. His forward-thinking approach has helped evolve the industry – most recently through APR ChemCycle, a pioneering soft plastics recycling initiative.

Young Professional of the Year Award winner:

Dr Linda Mitchell – Tyre Stewardship Australia

Dr Linda Mitchell is the Science, Research and Innovation Manager at Tyre Stewardship Australia and a nationally respected advocate for circular economy leadership. With a PhD in chemistry and a Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship under her belt, Linda is known for her ability to translate complex environmental science into practical, scalable solutions. Her work has reshaped national approaches to carbon accounting, product stewardship, and procurement standards, while amplifying the voice of science in public and policy discourse.

Community Engagement Award winner:

Surf Coast Council – be a good sort

Be a Good Sort: Know Your Bins is a Surf Coast Shire initiative featuring a four-part video series that shows the journey of recycling, FOGO, glass, and general waste from home bins to their final destinations. The series highlights advanced sorting technology and the importance of correct bin use at home. By educating the community, the program reduces landfill waste, protects the environment, and keeps resources in use, contributing to Surf Coast Shire’s 71% landfill diversion rate and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

Woman of Waste Award winner:

Diani Sirimewan – Monash University

Dr. Diani Sirimewan is a pioneering researcher and lecturer whose work bridges advanced artificial intelligence with sustainable construction and demolition waste (CDW) management. She completed her PhD at Monash University, where she developed AI-driven computer vision frameworks to optimise waste recognition and handling in material recovery facilities. Her leadership has delivered the first publicly available dataset for CDW in skip bins and novel models such as WasteXtract, featured in leading journals and
industry media.

WIAR Workplace of the Year Award winner:

ResourceHub

Resource Hub is a team of waste and resource recovery experts with over 65 years of combined experience, delivering practical solutions across Australia. They help clients turn operational opportunities into measurable results, providing remote administration, gatehouse and best-practice training, and comprehensive waste levy support. Experienced auditors, Resource Hub improves operations and reduces compliance risks at landfills, transfer stations, and back-office functions for Local Government and commercial facilities nationwide.

Outstanding WARR Project Regional Award winner:

Contained Waste Solutions and Gunnedah Shire Council

The Gunnedah Waste Management Facility in north-western New South Wales transformed its operations by implementing an LBin Waste Transfer Station. Previously, the public deposited waste directly at the landfill, creating safety and compliance challenges. Traditional waste transfer systems proved costly and underperformed in key areas. The LBin solution addressed these issues effectively, delivering safer, compliant operations at a fraction of the cost while surpassing performance expectations.

Innovation Award winner:

IQRenew – SPEC Facility

The iQRenew Soft Plastic Engineered Commodity (SPEC) Facility uses advanced mechanical recycling technology. SPEC transforms soft plastics into high-grade feedstock tailored for chemical and mechanical processors. The facility produces A-grade, B-grade, and C-grade recycled materials, enabling the creation of a wide range of products – from packaging films to construction materials and park benches – driving Australia’s circular economy forward.