Containers for Change is celebrating the opening of its 160th depot, Gympie Green Solutions, which will directly support local employment and services in the community.
Gympie Green Solutions is run by local not-for-profit Jobmatch Employment, which has supported Gympie jobseekers for more than 30 years.
Just four weeks after their doors opened, the depot has had a huge impact with 12 locals employed and over 295,000 containers processed, putting $29,500 in 10-cent refunds back into the community.
The depot at 6 Bonnick Road, Gympie offers drive-through drop-offs with a friendly concierge who counts containers while customers remain in their vehicle, as well as commercial collections for community groups and businesses.
Customers can either receive cash on the spot or use their Containers for Change member number to receive a bank transfer or donate directly to a charity of their choice.
Gympie Green Solutions Board President Petra Van Beek said the depot was not just about recycling but also about “locals supporting locals”.
“Every container returned at Gympie Green Solutions helps create job pathways for people facing barriers, invests in our community and reduces landfill,” Ms Van Beek said.
Containers for Change is Queensland’s largest community facing recycling system. More than 11 billion containers have been returned have been returned to refund points since November 2018, putting $1.1 billion in 10-cent refunds back into pockets of Queenslanders.
Natalie Roach, Chief Executive Officer of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Containers for Change, said Gympie Green Solutions was an example of the environmental, social and economic benefits delivered by the scheme.
“Gympie Green Solutions joins the more than 90 operators that make up the backbone of the Containers for Change network and run our more than 400 refund points across the state,” Ms Roach said.
“Every refund point delivers meaningful community impact through job creation, refunds and recycling, and we welcome Gympie Green Solutions in helping achieve our vision of no container goes to waste.”
To contact Gympie Green Solutions, email info@gympiegreensolutions.org.au or call 0475 REFUND (733863).
