Brisbane residents are being asked to increase their efforts during National Recycling Week by getting behind Queensland’s world-class target to recycle 85 per cent of all eligible beverage containers.
As National Recycling Week is held across Australia between 8-14 November, the Queensland Containers for Change scheme is focused on reaching a goal that would make Queensland one of the best recycling states on the planet.
The scheme provides a 10-cent refund to customers for the return of every eligible beverage container at the more than 320 refund points across Queensland.
“Queenslanders have recycled more than 5 billion containers since the scheme commenced three years ago – which would fill Suncorp Stadium to the top of the roof nearly 20 times,” said Ken Noye, the chief executive of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that administers the Containers for Change scheme.
“We now want Queenslanders to help us reach our ambitious recycling target to 85 per cent of all eligible containers sold.
“This requires action and change from all of us to dispose our drink containers in a manner that ensures they will be recycled.”
Containers for Change celebrated its third birthday on 1 November, with residents in the Greater Brisbane area already recycling more than 2.17 billion containers since the scheme was established in late 2018.
That figure means a staggering $217 million in 10-cent refunds has been injected into the pockets of residents across the city in just three years.
Brisbane locals recycled 812 million containers in the past year, which was 33% more than they did in the first 12 months of the Containers for Change scheme.
But residents are being urged to continue to improve their recycling habits for the good of the natural environment we all share.
National Recycling Week was founded 25 years ago as an opportunity to help people improve their recycling knowledge and build better recycling habits.
The quarter-of-a-century milestone is a pertinent reminder that despite the large numbers of containers that are being recycled, all Queenslanders can help to play their part in the Strive For 85 – the goal of recycling 85 per cent of all beverage containers sold across the state.
Mr Noye said everyone needed to be aware of the correct way to recycle containers.
“It is important to note there are only two ways people can be sure their beverage containers will not end up as permanent fixtures in landfill,” he said.
“That is by returning them at one of our registered refund points across Queensland in exchange for 10 cents, or by placing them in the council-provided yellow-top bin. “They must never be placed in a general waste or red-top bin or they are destined to be buried as landfill.
“We all have a responsibility to reduce landfill and this is an opportunity for every Queenslander to do their part to ensure the future of our beautiful natural environment.”
For more information on the Containers for Change scheme, please visit www.containersforchange.com.au/qld.
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e: media@containerexchange.com.au
