For the 11th consecutive year Troy has launched the country music festival waste and recycling initiative Don’t Waste Tamworth.

This year the program was launched at the Oxley Lookout with the city as a backdrop, reminding everyone what they had to look after during the festival and all year ‘round.

As part of the launch he performed his song, Home – the title track to his current album.

“I got involved with the program because I wanted to leave something positive in town,” Troy said.

“Tamworth has now become a bit of a yardstick for what other towns are doing with their waste – you don’t win Tidy Towns awards for nothing. It’s about educating people while they’re in Tamworth and taking that positive message with them when they go.”

Troy said Tamworth had done so much for him that he wanted to give back, as he’d started his music career here and had lived here for a few years when he moved from his hometown of Grafton, and the people had always been welcoming and accommodating.

Since Don’t Waste Tamworth started about 88 tonnes of waste has been saved from landfill and been recycled instead, testament to the influence Troy has had on this campaign and how country fans think about waste while in Tamworth.

“It’s great that visitors embrace the opportunity to do the right thing and recycle where possible,” Tamworth mayor  Col Murray said.

“We are really making a difference and Troy does a great job for Tamworth all year ’round.”

During the festival there will be 400 extra recycling bins and 400 extra waste bins.

Troy wrapped up his visit to Tamworth yesterday with a 3.30pm appearance outside JB Hi-Fi in Centrepoint, where he performed songs from his album, which is up for seven Golden Guitars.

The multi-award winning artist will return for his main show – Troy and Friends – during the festival on January 24 at TRECC.