Three northside Brisbane groups have been named finalists in this year's WasteSMART Brisbane Awards. They are the Harvest Cook Create community swap, Apricot Café in Wavell Heights and the SJFC Enviro Club at St John Fisher College in Bracken Ridge. Harvest Cook Create runs monthly swaps at T.C. Beirne Park in Hendra, where no money changes hands. Apricot Café offers a Mug Library and discounts for reusable cups. Winners will be announced at Brisbane City Hall on Friday 20 November.
The City of Whittlesea is marking National Recycling Week, running from 9 to 15 November 2026, by encouraging residents to find new ways to reduce waste and reuse items. Planet Ark leads the national campaign, which highlights how recycling benefits both the environment and the economy. Free community events include a mending session at Thomastown Library on 7 November, a clothing and textiles recycling day at Whittlesea Showgrounds on 18 November, and a homemade holiday decorations workshop on 19 November. A Circular Fashion Market at the South Morang Civic Centre carpark follows on 22 November.
Woytopia 2026 featured several first-time initiatives, according to organisers. The new measures aim to reduce waste, cut emissions and create a better experience for visitors.
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Residents of Fremantle and East Fremantle are invited to take part in five free events during National Recycling Week. Activities include volunteering to sort donated school supplies for children in need, and a guided tour of the Fremantle Recycling Centre. Young children can attend a recycling-themed event at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, featuring games and a waste truck visit. A recycling-themed yoga session will be held at East Fremantle Community Park on Saturday 14 November. Bookings are available through the Humanitix website.
Uralla Shire Council will install 20 bin baskets for 10-cent drink containers on selected public bins along Bridge Street and in Alma Park. The baskets were funded through the NSW Return and Earn Bin Basket Program. Installation is expected to start next month after pre-installation audits. Mayor Robert Bell said the baskets make it easier for people to recycle while out and about. Council will monitor the baskets and may seek more funding to expand the program across the Shire if they prove successful.
Banyule residents are encouraged to use reusable items like cups, containers, and bags to reduce single-use packaging waste. The Bring Your Own (BYO) resusables in Banyule initiative supports local businesses that accept clean reusable items. Mayor Alison Champion says the program helps reduce waste and conserve resources, with participating businesses displaying a Reusables Welcome Here sticker. Residents can find a list of businesses accepting reusables on an interactive map.
