The change makers
Meet the people turning containers into community change
Across Queensland, people are turning bottles and cans into something bigger. They are cleaning up neighbourhoods and waterways, raising money for causes close to them and showing what can happen when small actions add up.
Meet some of the change makers using Containers for Change to make a difference in the places they call home.
Bruce Ferguson
The community collector
At 84 years old, Bruce Ferguson has returned more than 324,000 containers through Containers for Change, generating more than $32,000 in 10-cent refunds for the Port Douglas community.
His long-running collection effort has helped keep containers out of landfill while supporting local causes close to home.
Paul Quarrell
The Can Man
Every day, Paul walks for hours through suburbs, creeks and mangroves to collect 10-cent containers. Since 2020, he has returned more than 1.3 million containers through Containers for Change, raising more than $130,000 for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland.
John and Yvonne Tagg
Bloomhill Cancer Care
Bloomhill Cancer Care, a community-based cancer care centre on the Sunshine Coast, has received more than $37,000 in container refund donations since 2018.
More than half of that amount has come from John and Yvonne Tagg, who have donated more than $20,000 to Bloomhill through Containers for Change after experiencing first-hand the support the organisation provides to local families.
David Sear
The Kayak Recycler
David and his friend Gary kayak around the Gold Coast’s islands, collecting litter from beaches and waterways along the way. They return the eligible containers through Containers for Change, helping protect the places they love and showing how a simple routine can create a visible local difference.
Selwyn Nutley
Central Queensland Pet Rescue
Meet change maker Selwyn, an 81-year-old powerhouse in Emerald making big change for his furry friends at CQ Pet Rescue. Supporting the over 1.8 million containers donated to the animal rescue through Containers for Change; Selywns efforts support much-needed food, vet bills and more.
Know a change maker?
If you know someone returning containers in remarkable numbers, cleaning up their community or using their refunds to support a local cause, we would love to hear their story.