Queensland’s Containers for Change has reached a new milestone, celebrating 10 billion beverage containers returned.
Those returned containers have also put $1 billion in 10¢ refunds back into Queensland communities.
Natalie Roach, the CEO of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Containers for Change, says the significant achievement is a milestone all of Queensland should celebrate.
“Thanks to Queenslanders, more than 600,000 tonnes of container waste has been diverted from landfill, which is enough to fill almost 3,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools,” she says.
“Over the past six years, we’ve heard incredible stories about the real difference Containers for Change has made across the state from boosting recycling rates to creating over 1,500 local jobs.
“Queenslanders have also donated almost $17 million in 10¢ refunds to charities.”
Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell welcomes the milestone.
“We know Queenslanders want to do the right thing to protect our wonderful environment,” he says.
“We are determined to find new ways to lift recycling rates and a big part of that is making sure Queenslanders have accessible ways to recycle in their local community.”
Ms Roach says the 10 billion containers milestone is a further opportunity for Queenslanders who were not yet taking part in the scheme to look at how they could collect containers and refunds.
“Every year about three billion containers are sold in Queensland, but one billion of these are still going unreturned – that’s $100 million in 10¢ refunds left unclaimed,” she says.
“Those containers represent a great opportunity for individuals, charities, community groups, sporting clubs and businesses to get started on their container collecting journey.
“Every container collected has a significant environmental, social and economic impact, and together we can work towards ensuring no container goes to waste.”
