The Northern Beaches has a new environmental hero. The Manly Environment Centre Eco Award winner for 2017 is plastic-free campaigner Belinda Elworthy.

Northern Beaches Council Deputy General Manager Ben Taylor said Belinda was a worthy winner.

“Belinda is the founder and driving force of the ‘Plastic Free Manly’ campaign, which engages businesses, schools and the broader community in Manly to learn about the impact plastic pollution is having on our marine environment and to encourage positive action to reduce it.

“Belinda and her team have recruited more than 200 volunteers to launch a program to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable shopping bags and have recruited more than 100 Manly businesses to being plastic free – what a great achievement,” Mr Taylor.

Belinda has also successfully taken the plastic free message to local primary schools by engaging them with the story of a turtle named Tank.

“Congratulations to Belinda, she is indeed a deserving recipient of the 12th Manly Environment Centre Eco Award.

“I would also like to acknowledge the other 34 nominees for their efforts to protect our environment.”

In front of more than 100 guests, Belinda was presented with the traditional prize of an art work, which this year is a painting by renowned local artist Mark Budd.

The Eco Awards started in 2006 and previous winners include musician, environmentalist and former politician Peter Garrett.

The awards have been such a great success that Northern Beaches Council is looking to extend the awards to all of the Northern Beaches community next year.