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In recent years, Queensland has had one of the lowest recycling rates in Australia at around 44%. Each year, approximately 2.7 billion drink containers are sold and consumed in Queensland alone and are the second most littered item.
As a state, we knew we could do better.
That’s why, in 2018 the Queensland Government introduced Containers for Change – a container refund scheme to help reduce beverage container litter across the state.
In September 2017 the legislation enabling the scheme — the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Act 2017 — was passed with bi-partisan support.
Meet our latest Change Maker: 10-Cent Tom.
When it comes to Containers for Change, you won’t meet anyone more passionate than this young man.
You can meet our other Change Makers by clicking the button below.
Cleaning up our state since 1 November 2018, Containers for Change aims to increase recycling rates and reduce litter by allowing Queenslanders to exchange eligible drink containers for a 10 cent refund.
COEX is the Product Responsibility Organisation behind Containers for Change, implementing logistics and ensuring the scheme fulfils its responsibilities.
In 2019, Container Exchange participated in the CE Labs with partners Everledger, Evolve Plastics and Astron Sustainability. Sponsored by the Queensland Government, the CE Labs provided the project team with a platform to deliver a Track and Trace trial, using resources from each of the partners. The trial demonstrated that PET collected and returned in Queensland could be recycled into other products introduced back into the market and used by Queenslanders, demonstrating the circular economy at work.
