Keep NSW Beautiful is looking to recognise the green heroes of state: the volunteers, businesses, councils, schools and more who are working to make their part of the state cleaner, greener, and more sustainable.

The Blue Star Sustainability Awards have grown out of the beloved Tidy Towns, Sustainable Cities, and Clean Beaches awards to recognise and celebrate new approaches to environmentally responsible citizens. 

With 10 award categories and a Metro and Regional winner in each, this is a statewide award that allows for the differences between urban and regional living.

Awards recognise waste and litter categories, volunteer awards, and criteria that recognises best practice and innovation in cultural heritage, habitat and wildlife conservation, sustainable systems and design, and environmental education. 

The Blue Stars are designed to highlight projects that think smartly and sustainably about waste, litter, energy, and more, introducing positive behaviour change and forward-thinking solutions into NSW Communities. 

One winner from each area will receive the coveted Overall Regional/Metro Sustainability Award, titles currently held by Maitland (regional) and Randwick (Metro).

Keep NSW Beautiful Interim CEO Val Southam said the Blue Star Sustainability Awards were all about recognising those who were building a better and more green tomorrow for their communities. 

"I encourage anyone trying to reduce waste, think green, and act sustainably to share their story with us and enter the awards," she said 

Entries close on June 30. Visit knswb.org.au for more details.