Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (KAB NSW) has unveiled the finalists for the 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards, honouring the people, projects and partnerships helping build a cleaner, greener and more resilient metropolitan Sydney.
Now in its 31st year, the long-standing awards program continues to celebrate those driving sustainability across councils, schools, businesses, and community organisations.
The initiative shines a spotlight on efforts tackling urban environmental challenges through innovation, collaboration and community participation.
“Every year, we are inspired by the depth of commitment and creativity shown by those striving to make Sydney more sustainable,” said Val Southam, CEO of KAB NSW.
“The 2025 finalists represent the very best in urban environmental leadership, and we are thrilled to recognise their efforts.”
This year’s entries highlight a diverse range of programs — from local grassroots campaigns to large-scale policy and infrastructure projects — focused on net zero targets, circular economy principles, biodiversity protection and inclusive community engagement.
The continued evolution of the awards reflects how sustainability is becoming embedded in city life, embraced by residents, councils and corporations alike.
The 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards will culminate in an official luncheon on Thursday, 6 November, hosted by 2024 Overall Award Winner Blacktown City Council and sponsored by Origin Zero at Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek.
The program is made possible through the support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority and Red Energy.
Finalists – 2025 Sustainable Cities Awards
Biodiversity Conservation
- Wildlife Protection Areas, Lane Cove Council
- Cooling the Schools, Greening Australia
- Walk on Wangal Nature Trail, City of Canada Bay
- Cumberland Woody Meadow Project, Cumberland City Council – Environment & Resource Recovery
- Biodiversity Strategy 2023 to 2033, Blacktown City Council – Greenspace Services
- Osprey Nesting Platform in Georges River, Georges River Council and Georges Riverkeeper
- Lane Cove Community Nursery, Lane Cove Council
- Royal Sydney’s Bay Course Project, The Royal Sydney Golf Club
- Grow, Restore, Connect Volunteer Project, Sutherland Shire Council
- Weeds to Natives Program, Wollondilly Shire Council
- Growing the Urban Forest & Wild Things, Bayside Council
- Robin Davies Wollondilly Community Nursery, Wollondilly Shire Council
Communication and Engagement
- Next Generation Waste Education Kids Tour, City of Newcastle
- The Liverpool CRC Excursion Program, Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team
- Weaving Climate Stories, Lane Cove Council
- “Bin it Right” Campaign, Northern Beaches Council
- Blacktown Big Ideas Environment Challenge, Blacktown City Council
- From Infectious Fails to Five Star Nails, Blacktown City Council – Environmental Health
- Youth Week Climate & Biodiversity Forum, Sutherland Shire Council
- Lane Cove Seed Library, Lane Cove Library
- Let’s Sort It Bayside, Bayside Council
- Summer Foreshore Program 2024/25, Bayside Council
- Georges River Binfluencing Campaign, Georges River Council
- Sustainadilly Workshop Program, Wollondilly Shire Council
- #SayHighForest, Hornsby Shire Council
Overall Sustainable Cities Award
- Bayside Council
- Hornsby Shire Council
- Liverpool Council
- Penrith Council
Circular Economy
- Mattress Shredding and Recycling, Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team
- Microfactory, Liverpool City Council – Circular Economy Team
- Buckle Up Recycling Child Car Safety Seats, Georges River Council
Community Spirit and Inclusion
- BCC Bushcare and Nursery Volunteer Program, Blacktown City Council – Greenspace Services
- Bidwill Reserve Advocacy, Bidwill Uniting
- Mana and Kaimana, Blacktown City Council – Emerton Youth Recreation Centre
- The Wellbeing Project – My Neighbourhood, North West Community Services
- Learn, Fix, Ride!, Bayside Council
- New-Bub Bushcare, Hornsby Shire Council
- Only About Children Childcare Relocation, Randwick City Council
Heritage and Culture
- Former Liverpool Courthouse Restoration, Liverpool City Council
- The 12 Beetles of Christmas, Lane Cove Council
- The Naming of Things Yarning Circles, Blacktown Arts and Uncle Chris Tobin
Plastic Free Communities
- Randwick’s Eco Living Festival, Randwick City Council – Sustainability
Resource Recovery
- Less Bins, More Wins: Waste Revitalisation, Penrith City Council
- Solved! Public Place Recycling, Sutherland Shire Council
Waterways and Marine Protection
- Healthy Waterways Multicultural Workshop, Advanced Diversity Services & Georges River Council
- Adopt a Beach Program, Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Cumberland Cool Carpark, Cumberland City Council
- ROW – Recovery on Wheels, Penrith City Council and Hawkesbury City Council
- Wisemans Ferry Community Resilience Plan, Hornsby Shire Council
Litter Prevention
- Hawkesbury Litter Prevention Program, Hawkesbury City Council
- Tackling Northern Beaches Fishing Litter, OzFish and Northern Beaches Council
- Satyam Ghaat – Litter Prevention, Liverpool City Council
Liveable Cities
- Philimona Gardens, Liverpool City Council and Phillips Marler
- Gipps Street Recreation Precinct, Penrith City Council
- Hawkins Hall Community Centre Upgrade, Hornsby Shire Council
- Resilient Bayside, Bayside Council
- Empowering Women and CALD Communities, City of Parramatta
Waste Avoidance
- Project Less to Landfill, Wheeler Heights Public School Sustainability Program
- Second-Hand Markets: Circularity in Action, Hornsby Shire Council
- Angle Park Beach Access and Remediation, Liverpool City Council
- Creating Sustainable Cities, Auburn Hospital Sustainability Team
- ReVIVE and ReCYCLE, Penrith City Council
- ‘Crook’ed Waste, Kaye & Andrew Crook
- How Low Can You Go?, Sutherland Shire Council
Young Legends
- Project Less to Landfill, Wheeler Heights Public School Sustainability Program
- The Green Ripple Effect, Bayside Council
- Jannali Public School Green Team, Jannali Public School
This comprehensive list reflects the wide range of sustainability initiatives and leadership being recognised across metropolitan Sydney.
