Queenslanders are being asked to serve up their views on expanding the Palaszczuk Government’s popular Containers for Change program to include glass wine and spirit bottles.

An online survey and discussion paper have been launched asking Queenslanders and industry to have their say on growing the recycling scheme which puts 10 cents back into the pockets of Queenslanders and charities for every container exchanged.  

“More than 5.7 billion containers have been recycled and refunded since Containers for Change launched four years ago,” Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

“That’s over $560 million in refunds and billions of containers being turned into new products instead of ending up in landfill.

In addition to glass wine and spirit bottles, Queenslanders will also be able to have their say on possibly including other items like larger flavoured milk, pure vegetable or fruit juice as well as water and wine in liquid paperboard packs (between 1 and 3L).

Currently, the containers for change program accepts most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and some liquid paperboard beverage containers.

Minister Scanlon said taking more containers eligible for refunds makes it easier for people to recycle, particularly in more regional and remote communities where they mightn’t have a recycling bin.

“From the perspective of Queensland’s fast-growing recycling industry, it also means beverage containers can be sorted and manufactured into new products quicker.

“This is a great opportunity to expand a program that has supported hundreds of jobs, thrown millions of dollars behind local groups and seen the number of bottles being recovered and recycled in Queensland grow threefold.”

Virginie Marley, acting CEO of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit that runs Containers for Change, is encouraging all Queenslanders to have their say about the scheme.

“The Containers for Change scheme has been embraced by Queenslanders since launch in 2018, providing refunds for over 24,000 different types of containers at our more than 350 container refund points across the state,” Ms Marley said.

“We look forward to the continued growth and expansion of the scheme, and encourage our customers, refund point operators, beverage manufacturers and community groups and charities to have their say online.”

The survey is open now until 5pm, 20 February 2023.

To have your say, head to the link here

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078