Queensland’s container refund scheme dubbed Containers for Change has reached a significant milestone, seeing seven billion containers returned through the network of container refund points in less than five years of operation.
Since its inception in November 2018, the Containers for Change initiative, which offers 10-cent refunds on qualified drink containers, has grown from strength to strength, having already reached its sixth billion container milestone in February of this year.
According to the government, Queenslanders and charities continue to benefit from the scheme, with more than $700 million returned to people’s pockets, including about $11 million handed to charities and community organisations.
The addition of glass wine and spirit bottles will enhance the program’s existing benefits by dramatically increasing glass recovery for remanufacturing into new glass bottles and other applications such as home insulation.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard revealed that prior to the start of Containers for Change in 2018, only 18 per cent of drink containers in Queensland were recovered and repurposed.
“That recovery rate has now increased to around 64% and from 1 November 2023 we will be the first state in Australia to accept glass wine and pure spirit bottles for a refund,” the minister stated.
She added, “Every single container that is saved from ending up as litter or landfill is a win, especially for our iconic Queensland environment.”
The program also has a significant influence on our local economy, creating more than 800 new employment, many of which are in rural regions, in addition to helping to conserve the environment and put much-needed funding back into Queenslanders’ pockets.
According to Natalie Roach, CEO of Container Exchange, Queenslanders are continuing to bring about change through container recycling as seen by the positive results.
“With our scheme expanding to include glass wine and pure spirit bottles on November 1, we’re looking forward to welcoming even more customers to our refund points across Queensland,” Natalie said.
The CEO also revealed the company’s expansion with its most recent addition Lawnton, which has seen more than 517,000 drink containers returned since opening on July 12.
In April, the company inaugurated its first refund point in the Torres Strait on Badu Island; in June, it opened the Palm Island refund point; and in April, it debuted the Badu Island refund point.
The seven billion container milestone comes ahead of the Containers for Change reimbursement scheme’s planned expansion.
The government said the possibility of requesting a refund will be expanded to cover glass wine and pure spirit bottles beginning 1 November.
