The Containers for Change program is expanding to new locations across the Sunshine Coast, with two new initiatives being launched.
Sunshine Coast Airport has announced a new partnership with the container refund scheme throughout the airport terminal.
Passengers can now dispose of bottles and containers in specially marked bins, with the first round of money raised supporting Coolum and North Shore Coast Care.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the Partners for Change program would raise money while also supporting the airport’s environment, conservation and sustainability goals.
“This is a great initiative which will provide vital funds that will benefit local community groups and the environment,” Mr Mills said.
“The program will help increase container recycling and reduce waste, while raising awareness of Coolum and North Shore Coast Care’s on-going environmental conservation work.
“We now have 15 Containers for Change bins at convenient locations in the terminal.
“By reducing waste and raising money, our partnership with Containers for Change will help us continue to support our regions biodiversity values.”
Container Exchange CEO Natalie Roach said a lack of dedicated drink container bins in public places like airports often meant millions of recyclable and refundable containers were still going to waste across Queensland each year.
“Sunshine Coast locals and tourists have embraced Containers for Change, returning more than 487 million drink containers for recycling since 2018,” Ms Roach said.
“However, millions of recyclable containers still end up as waste or litter each year, representing a missed opportunity for locals, charities, and community groups to cash in on 10-cent refunds.
“Through this exciting partnership even more containers will be collected at the airport for recycling, with the 10-cent refunds donated to local charities and community groups at a time many of them are facing the pressures of rising costs.
“This partnership also means interstate flyers already familiar with the benefits of container recycling in their home state can continue to let those good habits soar as part of their journey through Sunshine Coast Airport.”
Containers for Change has also partnered with Sunshine Coast Council to launch a trial of public bins at Cotton Tree.
Container Exchange Points have been attached to 40 public bins, offering residents and visitors a convenient way to recycle eligible containers and pay it forward so others can earn the refunds.
“Park-goers who don’t want to hold on to their empty eligible containers for a 10-cent refund can now place them in a Containers for Change Container Exchange Point for others to collect,” Ms Roach said.
“These Container Exchange Points are also great spots for community groups and charities to collect containers to help raise funds and support their important work for Sunshine Coast locals.
“This trial is just one of example of the innovative ways Container Exchange is working with local councils across Queensland to increase container recycling and benefit both the environment and the community.”
Container Exchange has also unveiled an eye-catching public art mural within Cotton Tree Park to highlight container recycling through Containers for Change and promote the new Container Exchange Points to parkgoers.
Sunshine Coast Council manager of waste and resource management John Hogg said council was pleased to support the trial “to give our community the chance to pay it forward, by giving others the chance to collect the 10-cent refunds and reduce waste going to landfill”.
Related story: Recycling refund point collects 600,000 containers in two months
“The trial will run until late March and, depending on the results, we will consider expanding it into other highly visited parks and outdoor spaces across the region,” Mr Hogg said.
“If an exchange point basket is full, users are encouraged to try other nearby bins.
“If these are full too, people could either take their container home to be refunded later or place it in the park’s recycling bins.”
Ms Roach said those wishing to claim the 10-cent refunds could take the eligible containers to a refund point on the Sunshine Coast.
“Residents and visitors on the Sunshine Coast can find their nearest container refund point by visiting the Containers for Change website or downloading our app,” she said.
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