The Containers for Change scheme began in Queensland just six months ago but has already achieved some incredible results.

Since the start of November 2018, over 173,000 Queenslanders have signed up to the scheme and returned half-a-billion containers as part of the state’s container deposit scheme. Even more significantly, the environment is benefiting with studies conducted since the scheme began showing a 35% reduction in container litter in the environment. 

Mark O’Brien, chairman of Container Exchange – the organisation that runs the scheme – said 275 container refund points were now in operation, with new reverse vending machines continuing to be rolled out across Queensland.

As a direct result of the 500 million containers returned, over $50 million dollars has been reinvested into community organisations and charities around the state. The project has also contributed to the creation of 640 jobs in the process.

Queenslanders are also benefitting personally from the scheme, with one Sunshine Coast couple even committing to funding their dream wedding by returning approximately 2,200 bottles every day for a year. For every eligible container returned, the Containers for Change scheme provides a 10-cent refund.

Queensland as a whole generates approximately three billion containers each year and these represented the second most littered item prior to the introduction of the return scheme.

 

Positive Action

• To find out more information about your state’s container deposit scheme, visit our page on RecyclingNearYou.
• If there is no container deposit scheme available in your state but you would like to see one, contact your local political representatives to let them know.

 

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Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.