MEDIA RELEASE
The overwhelming success of New Mapoon’s first dedicated Containers for Change depot will be celebrated in the community tomorrow (8 May) at the official opening event.
Located at 1 Bond Street, New Mapoon, the refund point has been operating since October 2023, with residents already embracing the service and returning more than 794,000 drink containers for recycling – securing over $79,400 in 10-cent refunds back into the surrounding community.
Prior to the establishment of the dedicated depot, the community had access to Containers for Change with a pop-up service operating locally since November 2020.
Run by long time local refund point operator Auswaste, the New Mapoon site marks another milestone in the rollout of Containers for Change right across Queensland and makes it even easier for locals to play their part in creating a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable community.
Speaking ahead of the depot’s official opening, Chief Executive of Container Exchange Natalie Roach, highlighted the remarkable success of Containers for Change both in terms of recycling outcomes and the economic benefits delivered for Queenslanders.
“The success of Containers for Change is truly remarkable and has had a significant impact on our environment, keeping more than 8.2 billion drink containers from ending up as litter or landfill since 2018,” Ms Roach said.
“And importantly, Containers for Change has now returned more than $820 million to the pockets of Queenslanders, including almost $12.6 million raised by charities, community groups and schools, which is making a real difference in communities right across the state.
“With new refund points such as this dedicated depot in New Mapoon being added to the Containers for Change network, we are making it even easier for Queenslanders to ensure no container goes to waste.
“Containers for Change is also leading the way as the first in Australia to include glass wine and spirit bottles, giving more and more Queenslanders the opportunity to make a real change through container recycling.
“In fact, this past summer we have seen record numbers of containers returned, further underscoring the positive impact of Containers for Change in communities across our state, including right here in Far North Queensland and the cape.
“Getting started on a container collecting journey and experiencing the benefits of Containers for Change is easier than ever.
“Customers can simply download the Containers for Change app to keep track of their refunds and select their preferred container refund point from depots, 24-hour bag drops, and pop-up services operating in communities right across the state’s far north.”
Situated at the tip of Australia, New Mapoon is located in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) Region. The NPA is made up of five different First Nations communities, and is the home of the Angkamuthi, Atambaya and Gudang Yadhaykenu people, the traditional custodians of the land.
Containers for Change New Mapoon is open Monday to Wednesday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. Refunds can be processed through various payment methods, including EFT and PayPal via a Containers for Change member number, and cash.
To find out more about the Auswaste New Mapoon Containers for Change depot, visit https://www.containersforchange.com.au/qld/where-to-return?location=auswaste-new-mapoon
For further info on Containers for Change in Queensland, visit www.containersforchange.com.au/qld.
