Queenslanders encouraged to cash-in on festive season

• Queenslanders can cash-in on their Christmas and New Years celebrations by returning their empty drink containers for 10-cent refunds.
• All Containers for Change refund points across the State now accept glass wine and pure spirit bottles.
• The Containers for Change scheme has recently recorded its biggest day of returns with 8,346,020 containers recycled.

The Miles Government is encouraging Queenslanders to cash in on their Christmas and New Years celebrations by recycling empty drink containers for 10-cent refunds.

Queenslanders can earn cash at more than 360 Containers for Change refund points across the state by returning eligible drink containers, including glass wine and pure spirit bottles, after an Australian-first expansion of the Containers for Change scheme in November.

This inclusive initiative allows the community the opportunity to responsibly dispose of a wider array of beverage containers, particularly those associated with the festive season.

On 22 December 2023, Containers for Change recorded its biggest day of returns with 8,346,020 containers handed in, surpassing the previous record of 7,906,010 set in December 2022.

Containers for Change’s New Years goal is to surpass the impressive recycling achievements of the month of January 2023, which saw customers return 157.5 million containers, injecting $15.75 million back into the pockets of Queensland households, charities, and community groups.

Since Containers for Change launched in November 2018 more than 7.4 billion containers have been returned to refund points across Queensland. To December this year alone 1.6 billion containers have been returned for recycling.

Customers can download the Containers for Change app to keep track of their refunds and track their progress against the goals they have set for the year. They can also find their nearest container refund point from more than 360 across the state.

Quotes attributable to Acting Environment Minister, Grace Grace:

“Containers for Change is a fantastic way for Queenslanders to cash in this festive season, while taking part in the circular economy.

“Queenslanders have already demonstrated an impressive dedication to recycling and as we celebrate this special time of year with family and friends, we encourage everyone to keep sustainability front of mind.

“Containers for Change is going from strength to strength, which is why we’re opening more and more facilities across the State to service local demand and also meet the expectations of the community.

“Last year, Queenslanders who participated in Containers for Change received on average $200 in refunds.

“The popularity of the initiative has only increased since all Queensland Containers for Change refund points started accepting empty glass wine and pure spirit bottles in November in exchange for 10-cent refunds and the festive season gives a great opportunity to take advantage of these refunds.

“Our decision to include glass wine and pure spirit bottles followed an extensive consultation period, during which more than 6,600 Queenslanders shared their thoughts about including additional containers in the refund program.”

Quotes attributable to Container Exchange CEO Natalie Roach:

"I’d like to congratulate Queenslanders on this amazing record – it shows that more and more Queenslanders are seeing the value of returning their containers for 10-cent refunds.

“The impact of Containers for Change is staggering, with more than 7.4 billion containers returned since the program began just over five years ago.

“That's $740 million returned to the pockets of Queenslanders including around $11.5 million to charities and community groups. This has made a real difference as households look for new ways to alleviate cost-of-living pressures.

“As Queenslanders clean up after festive season parties and set their New Year’s resolutions, we are encouraging them to make positive change with their empties through Containers for Change.

“On average Queenslanders returned more than 5 million containers a day in January 2023 and we want to see this return rate well and truly surpassed in 2024.”

Quick stats:

• 7.4 billion containers returned for recycling across Queensland since launch.
• $740 million paid to Queenslanders in refunds.
• More than 360 refund points across the state including drive through depots, 24-hour bag drops, reverse vending machine kiosks and mobile services.
• Free home collection services operate in many areas of the state – visit containersforchange.com.au to see if your suburb is included.

Learn more about Containers for Change here: www.containersforchange.com.au/qld

ENDS

Media contacts: Minister Grace: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339; Container Exchange: Benjamin Mulcahy – 0437 370 139