These Change Makers are the heart of the Containers for
Change recycling program.
They’re refund point operators, container collectors, charity
workers, local club members – even school kids – and they're
in every corner of Queensland.
Click on a region to read a local success story.
Queensland
b
containers returned
$m
returned to customers via CRP network
CRPs across the state
customers registered with scheme IDs
charities and community groups registered for scheme IDs
$m
returned to community groups and charities via scheme IDs
%
reduction in beverage container litter
jobs created
Far North Queensland
Kenny and Steffi Reid are passionate about protecting their pristine environment for
generations to come. That’s why they travel the length and breadth of the Cape to
help communities make change.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Cairns
Ten-year-old Cairns resident Emma lives with cerebral palsy,
dystonia and epilepsy. Thanks to Mum Doreen’s incredible
fundraising efforts through Containers for Change, Emma has
been able to access life-changing stem cell treatments not
currently available in Australia. Local restaurants including
The Salt House, Ochre and German Tucker Kuranda and members
of the community donate containers to help Doreen with her
fundraising efforts. Each 10-cent container refund from NQ
Recycling helps fund treatment and equipment to improve
Emma's quality of life.
Donate to Doreen and Emma via Scheme ID C10180934.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to community
Mackay
Containers for Change has been responsible for the creation
of more than 700 full-time equivalent jobs across Queensland.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many Mackay
businesses were laying off employees, Paget container refund
point, Anything Environmental, was proud to employ five new
team members like Tracey, creating valuable local employment
opportunities.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Central Queensland
Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library sales. Blythe Moore C 2016 ABC
True Value Barcaldine may service a community of just 1,400
people but the container refund point is achieving big
things. It processed more than 1.162 million containers in
2019-2020 an outstanding achievement for a small community.
Container refund point operator owner Garry is passionate
about ensuring the community’s elderly residents can receive
quality care close to family and friends in Barcaldine.
That’s why he donates his handling fee on each container
returned through his site to Barcaldine Aged Care. To 30 June
2020, that amounted to more than $69,720.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$
refunded to the community
Darling Downs
Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Qld harnessed the fundraising
capabilities of Containers for Change to assist drought-affected
farmers and their families. Lifeline Darling Downs and South West
CEO Derek Tuffield OAM said that with the support of the local
community the charity raised more than $60,000 in just six months.
The much-needed funds helped farmers in the Darling Downs, Southern
Downs, Western Downs, Lockyer Valley and far South West cover
everyday essentials such as feed for livestock.
Donate to Lifeline Darling Downs and South West QLD via Scheme ID C10004170.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Fitzroy
Rockhampton container refund point Kanga Bins provides employment
opportunities for disadvantaged members of the local community.
Business owner Amanda says the extra effort that goes into
training staff with disabilities is well worth the reward. She
takes great joy in seeing the pride her staff take in their work
and watching their confidence grow. (Video credit Regional
Advantage Capricorn)
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Gold Coast
Image – Nathan Richter, Newscorp
Eleven-year-old Runaway Bay resident Sam is one of the many 'kid-preneurs'
making big bucks through Queensland’s container refund scheme. Sam pedals
his way around the neighbourhood with a trailer attached to his bicycle
to collect containers. He earns up to $100 a week through container
refunds and leaves personalised thank you messages on paper planes in the
letterboxes of his customers.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Greater Brisbane
Janelle Zordan runs a booming business at Advanced Metal Recycling, serving upwards of 200 customers a day.
Her container refund point has created opportunity for her community, employing 45 staff who are helping locals make change.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
North Queensland
Based in Normanton in far north-western Queensland, Gulf C4C
contends with huge distances to provide the Containers For
Change scheme to the local community. The business covers
three shires that equate to an area of 133,000 square
kilometres, with a permanent population of just over 2,500
people. Since opening in November 2019 Gulf C4C has collected
930,935 containers from towns like Normanton, Karumba,
Burketown and Gregory.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
South East
Image Lachlan McIvor Newscorp
Gatton container refund point Anuha Tip Shop employs a number of
individuals with disabilities through the organisation’s
Supported Employment Program. The Anuha team has certainly been
kept busy with more than 9.5 million containers processed at the
container refund point in FY 2019–2020.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
South West
Image Molly Hancock Newscorp
The Maranoa Container Refund point in Roma only opened in
January 2020 but it has quickly become a star performer for
the South West region. By June 30 more than 2.1 million
containers had been processed through the container refund
point operated by WAH Construction, putting $216,680 back in
the pockets of local residents, charities and community
groups. Five additional mobile pop up services at Injune,
Surat, Wallumbilla, Yuleba and Jackson have been introduced
to meet growing demand.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Sunshine Coast
Students from Sunshine Beach State High School have been making
change since the scheme launch in November 2018. In 2019–2020
they took delivery of their custom, upcycled container donation
trailer, which collects containers used on school grounds and
from the local community. The school also helped launch our
Wave of Change program, which provides up to 50 Queensland
schools with free educational resources to learn more about
reducing their plastic waste and use Containers for Change to
recycle and raise funds.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Townsville
NQ Green Solutions operates as a social enterprise with a strong
focus on providing employment and training opportunities for
people with disabilities, injuries or health conditions. The Ayr
container refund point provides an opportunity for individuals
who are often overlooked to gain new skills and contribute
positively to the community. NQ Green Solutions invests all
profits back into the employment services they offer, ensuring
the benefits from the Containers for Change scheme are shared
with the wider Ayr community.
m
containers returned
jobs created
$m
refunded to the community
Wide Bay
Change Maker Andrew Beckett and his community have a connection
to country that drives them to look after and protect their
environment. Containers for Change has helped them to make a big
difference in the small town of Cherbourg.
