$500m refunded by QLD’s Containers for Change  

containers for change queensland

Queensland’s container deposit scheme reached a significant milestone last week, with five billion containers collected and more than $500 million refunded.

The Containers for Change scheme provides a 10-cent refund to customers returning eligible beverage containers to one of more than 360 deposit points across the state.

The scheme, introduced by Queensland Government in 2018, is run by not-for-profit organisation Container Exchange (COEX).

Meaghan Scanlon, Environment Minister, said the milestone represents thousands of tonnes of bottles, cans and poppers from ending up in landfill.

“Containers have become too good to waste,” she said. “Not only have we reduced the amount of rubbish ending up in waterways, we’ve given new life to thousands of tonnes of recycled materials and created hundreds of good jobs at the same time.

“Through Containers for Change and our $1.1 billion Recycling and Jobs Fund, Queensland has become a powerhouse in the war on waste and for the emerging resource recovery industry.”

Scanlon made the announcement at Suncorp Stadium ahead of the 2022 State of Origin decider, where spectators will be able to use new specially marked Containers for Change bins, saving thousands of containers from landfill.

Refunds from the collected containers will be distributed to charities and community groups, which have received more than $7 million donated through container refunds since 2018.

Virginie Marley, interim COEX Chief Executive Officer, said there were more ways than ever for people to refund or donate their containers.

“In 2022 alone we have added dozens of new container refund points to the network across Queensland,” she said. “From one of the most remote towns in Australia in Birdsville to some of the country’s busiest shopping centres, the network has more than 360 container refund points and counting.

“There are more ways than ever before to use the scheme, including a trial of a free home collection service, drive through depots, bag drops, and reverse vending machines – recyclers can choose what suits their lifestyle.”

For more information, visit: www.containersforchange.com.au

 

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