Resource Recovery Australia has been named 2026 Workplace of the Year at the Waste Innovation & Recycling Awards, recognising the inclusive workplace our people have built together and our commitment to helping people build skills, confidence and meaningful careers.

For RRA, this is an award that means a great deal because it recognises what sits at the heart of our organisation: our people.

Through #WASTE2WAGES, we create employment and training opportunities for people who face barriers to work. Hands-on training, mentoring and support help people build skills and confidence while delivering essential reuse, recycling and resource recovery services in communities across Australia.

This award belongs to our people

RRA General Manager Matthew Curtis said the award was recognition of the commitment and teamwork shown by employees across RRA every day.

“Across our sites and services, our teams work incredibly hard to support their communities and each other. Much of that work happens quietly. It’s in the way people turn up for their team, help a colleague, share their knowledge, solve a problem, look after our customers and communities, and continue to deliver when the day is challenging.”

“That is what makes RRA the workplace it is, and it’s wonderful to see the hard work and commitment of our people recognised in this way.”

A workplace where people can grow

The award is backed by strong feedback from our people.

RRA’s latest employee engagement survey recorded 92% engagement and 88% wellbeing, with both results above industry benchmarks.

Those figures matter because they reflect the experience of the people who work at RRA and the culture our teams have created together.

Our focus is not simply on providing someone with a job. We want people to have opportunities to learn, develop new skills, build confidence and create meaningful career pathways.

That goes hand in hand with the work our teams undertake every day to recover valuable resources, reduce waste to landfill and deliver services to local communities.

From finalist to Workplace of the Year

The 2026 win is an especially important milestone for RRA after being recognised as a finalist for Workplace of the Year in 2025.

To move from finalist to winner this year is something we are incredibly proud of, and a wonderful recognition of the work our people continue to do across RRA.

The Waste Innovation & Recycling Awards celebrate achievements from across Australia’s waste and recycling sector, with the 2026 awards recognising organisations and individuals across 16 categories including innovation, resource recovery, sustainability, operational excellence and industry leadership.

Inside Waste has published the full list of 2026 winners, including Resource Recovery Australia as WIAR Workplace of the Year. Read the Inside Waste coverage and see all the 2026 award winners.

Congratulations, Team RRA

This award carries RRA’s name, but it represents the contribution of people working across our sites and services every day.

It recognises the people who support their colleagues, share their skills and knowledge, serve their local communities and help create a workplace where others have the opportunity to grow.