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Queensland scheme sees five-million containers recycled in first week

Queensland’s new Container Refund Scheme has seen more than five-million containers returned and recycled in the scheme’s first week.

In early November, Minister for environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leeanne Enoch said half-a-million-dollars had gone back to Queenslanders or charities and community groups from the amount of containers returned or recycled.

“We’ve also seen some great recycling happening in regional areas. More than 780,000 containers have been returned in Wide Bay, and more than 770,000 in Townsville.

“As part of Containers for Change, Queenslanders are able to get 10 cents back for returning their bottles and cans, or donate the refund to a charity or community group,” said Enoch.

READ: New facility in New Zealand sees water packaged in recycled plastic bottles

Containers for Change was about recycling and reducing litter in the environment, she said.

“Queenslanders use nearly three billion containers a year, and sadly they are the most commonly littered item in the environment.

“This scheme creates an incentive for Queenslanders to recycle their containers and get a refund.”

The scheme is also creating job opportunities, said Enoch.

“This scheme has created about 500 new jobs, with people starting work at container refund points across the state,” she said.

Container Exchange is the company responsible for implementing and managing the scheme.

Container Exchange CEO Ken Noye said it was a massive result to have five-million containers returned and recycled, which is bound to have a positive impact on the environment.

“We also now have 27,000 people signed up with a scheme ID, allowing them to be paid their refund straight into their bank account.

“People are able to support local community groups by donating their containers and we encourage social purpose organisations to sign up for the scheme.

“We’d love to see communities get behind Containers for Change to raise funds for schools, sporting clubs and other not-for-profits,” said Noye.

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