Gold Coast residents will have more opportunities to recycle while out and about, with the City of Gold Coast trialling 48 Container Exchange Points in Labrador.
Installed between Harley Park and Len Fox Park, the Container Exchange Points are attachments to public bins that provide a dedicated place for people to leave eligible drink containers for another person to collect and claim the 10-cent refund.
Officially launching during National Recycling Week 2026, the 12-month trial will make it easier for people to recycle when they are away from home, while helping keep valuable resources out of landfill and reducing litter.
The baskets also provide a safer alternative to reclaim eligible containers from public bins.
Trevor Evans, CEO of Container Exchange (COEX), the not-for-profit that runs Containers for Change, said the trial was a practical way to reduce waste and boost recycling rates.
“Queenslanders have embraced Containers for Change in extraordinary numbers, but there is still an opportunity to capture more of the bottles and cans we use when we’re away from home,” Mr Evans said.
“The Gold Coast has been a strong contributor to Containers for Change from day one. This trial is about building on that and providing another practical way to capture more containers in the places people live, visit and spend their time.”
Gold Coast residents have already returned almost 1.3 billion containers through Containers for Change since the scheme began in 2018, putting $130 million in refunds back into the community.
“As the area’s local Councillor, I’m always looking for practical opportunities to improve the way we manage waste in our parks and public spaces,” Joe Wilkinson, Councillor for Division 7, Gold Coast, said.
“I’m really pleased to see the City of Gold Coast partnering with COEX on this initiative and putting Labrador at the forefront of the trial. With its high visitation and strong community use, Labrador is an ideal location to put this initiative to the test.
“If we can demonstrate that it works well here, the learnings will help inform whether similar initiatives could be rolled out across other parts of the Gold Coast.”
The attachments are provided to councils for free by COEX. There are now 1,750 Container Exchange Points across the state, keeping Queensland communities clean. To learn more, visit https://containerexchange.com.au/container-exchange-points-2/.
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