Should Containers for Change include glass wine and spirit bottles? -

QUEENSLANDERS are being asked to take part in an online survey to determine whether the popular Containers for Change program should be expanded.

The State Government launched a survey and discussion paper to ask Queenslanders and industry to have their say on growing the recycling scheme that puts 10 cents back into your pocket for every container exchanged.

NOW READ: Polystyrene recycling efforts soaring on the Fraser Coast

Under the proposal, the program would be expanded to include glass wine and spirit bottles.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said more than 5.7-billion containers have been recycled and refunded since Containers for Change was launched four years ago.

CLICK THE LINK to take part in the survey.

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

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).

Containers

The Containers for Change program currently accepts most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and some liquid paperboard drinks containers.

ALSO READ: New waste management strategy for K’gari (Fraser Island)

Ms Scanlon said making more containers eligible for refunds would make it easier for people to recycle – “especially in regional and remote communities where they mightn’t have a recycle bin.”

She said it would also be quicker to sort and recycle beverage containers into new products.

“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.”

Not-for-profit

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.

ALSO READ: Severe weather events highlight the importance of Clean Up Australia Day

“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.”

ALSO READ: Aussies want to give single-use plastic the boot

The survey is open until 5pm on 20 February 2023.