The ENVIRO Innovation in Sustainability Award was first introduced in 2010 as a key feature of ENVIRO.

The award is designed to celebrate and reward innovative activity undertaken by individuals, community groups, organisations or businesses that have embarked on a project or initiative resulting in significant sustainable environmental, social and economic outcomes.

The concept of ‘significant’ varies depending on the type of project or initiative, but it is envisaged that results will demonstrate a clear step change from any other similar project or initiative undertaken previously in Australia.

This year’s finalists, Grease trap waste and tallow recovery plant (Transpacific Industries Group) and Taylors Road Landfill - Automated Leachate System (SITA Australia) were commended by the judging panel for demonstrating their ability to take an innovative idea from inception to ‘on the ground’ implementation.

The award will be presented at the ENVIRO’14 Gala Dinner on Thursday 18 September.

Special thanks to this year’s judging panel: Trixie Smith, Geoffrey Webster, Lionel Ho and Annie Ngo.

Entries were received for the following projects:

• Bankstown Council’s ‘Wheelie Good®’ Idea (Bankstown City Council)
  
• Community Owned Solar pilot project (City of Campbelltown)
  
• Coles Soft Plastics Recycling Program (Coles and RED Group)
  
• The Schools Water Efficiency Program (Victorian Dept of Environment and Primary Industries & Dept of Education and Early Childhood Development)
  
• Ecoblanket — Legacy Way (Groundworks Australia)
  
• DIG Manly (Dream. Inspire. Grow.) (Manly Council)
  
• Degraves Street Recycling Facility (City of Melbourne)
  
• Monorail Removal Project (Metropolitan Demolition Group)
  
• Taylors Road Landfill - Automated Leachate System (SITA Australia)
  
• Implementation of the TechCollect Program (Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform)
  
• Teys Australia Renewable Energy Developments (Teys Australia Pty Ltd)
  
• Grease trap waste and tallow recovery plant (Transpacific Industries Group)
  
• Landfill Gas to Brick Kiln Project (Austral Bricks Co. Pty Ltd & Veolia Environmental Services)
  
• Ridge Park Managed Aquifer Recharge — Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Scheme – Design (Australian Water Environments)
  
• Great Eastern Highway (City East Alliance)
  
• Launch of Zero Waste SA’s sharing intiative - Share N Save (Zero Waste SA)

John Kernahan (Sulo Australia) with the finalists and winner of the 2012 ENVIRO Innovation in Sustainability Award