Thursday, April 11, 2024

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Turning Trash Into Treasure With Container Exchange

Paying it forward is now easier than ever with Containers for Change Container Exchange Points being installed on public bins around the region.
The Container Exchange Points allow anyone to place their drink containers into them for someone else to collect and return at their preferred Containers for Change location for a 10-cent refund.
Mackay Regional Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Scott Owen, said council was excited to roll out the program for the region to combat several recycling issues.
“It is literally a pay it forward program – from those who don’t want, to those who need it,” Mr Owen said.
“It also assists council in combatting the issue of contamination in our public recycling bins,” he said.
The stations will be rolled out over the coming months and will be attached to existing rubbish bins in 70 locations across Mackay.
Natalie Roach, CEO of Container Exchange said a lack of dedicated drink container bins in public places meant millions of recyclable and refundable containers were still going to waste across Queensland each year.
“Residents and visitors who don’t want to hold on to their empty eligible containers for a 10-cent refund can now place them in a Container Exchange Point on a public bin for others to collect.
“Mackay has embraced Containers for Change, returning more than 304 million containers for recycling since 2018.
“This has refunded more than $30.4 million to the pockets of local households, charities, and community groups. With the availability of the new Container Exchange Points in public places we are excited to see that figure continue to grow even further.
Container Exchange is the not-for-profit organisation that implements Containers for Change in Queensland on behalf of the Queensland Government.

Pay it forward by placing your drink containers into the newly designed bins for others to access and collect

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