An outdoor recycling initiative aimed at reducing litter and promoting sustainability has expanded to the City of Moreton Bay, Queensland’s third-largest local government area, with the installation of around 70 Container Exchange Points across the region.
Led by Containers for Change, the program allows people to leave eligible beverage containers in designated baskets or racks attached to public bins or poles.
These containers can then be collected by others in exchange for the state’s 10-cent refund, providing both an environmental and economic incentive, as revealed in a news release.
Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation behind Containers for Change, said the initiative is designed to make recycling more accessible in public spaces such as parks and beaches.
Chief Executive Officer Natalie Roach said the expansion builds on the success of trials that began a year ago on the Sunshine Coast.
“These convenient Container Exchange Points make it easier for people to recycle when out and about, which helps keep litter out of our beautiful parks and waterways,” Roach said.
According to Container Exchange, more than 600 Container Exchange Points are now operating across 13 local government areas in Queensland.
Each point has the potential to divert up to 300 containers from landfill daily, while also helping councils avoid the costs associated with bin diving and litter collection.
The initiative has received strong support from the City of Moreton Bay, with Mayor Peter Flannery noting its broad community benefits.
“This scheme empowers people to make a real difference by reducing waste, supporting local charities and driving positive change across City of Moreton Bay,” Flannery said.
The Container Exchange Points are provided at no cost to participating councils and are manufactured by Brisbane-based social enterprises Bin Bypass and Help Enterprises.
Initial trials of the system were conducted in collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council at Cotton Tree Park, and several councils have since made the bins permanent features in public areas.
Local government areas currently participating in the program span across South East, South West, Central, North, and Far North Queensland, including Logan City, Townsville, and Mareeba Shire.
Residents can visit the Containers for Change website to learn more about eligible containers and how to claim their refund.
