Fostering business on Cape with expo

A COOKTOWN business that has turned recycling into a successful enterprise helping clean up remote communities in Cape York Peninsula is one of the innovators at the Cape York Business Expo in June.

Over five years, Auswaste FNQ managing director Ken Reid and his wife Steffi transformed their Cooktown skip bin business into an enterprise employing up to 20 people.

After winning the Containers for Change contract for Cooktown, the Reids looked for other ways to help reduce waste in Cape York Peninsula.

“We secured a Containers for Change depot in Weipa and now service 23 remote communities from Wujal Wujal to Bamaga,” Mr Reid said.

“There is scope to help the Indigenous communities open their own container refund points, which we have under way at Wujal Wujal.

“We are looking to recycle other items such as batteries to reduce landfill, and are talking with the Department of Environment and Science about the Cape Waste Strategy to deal with larger items like car bodies.”

Recycled products like crushed glass are also being considered for use in Cooktown Concrete, which Mr Reid purchased a year ago.

“We have rebranded the business to include landscaping supplies which has helped drive turnover to more than $1m,” he said.

Far Northern businesses are invited to exhibit and attend a Business Symposium on June 15-16 exploring resilience, adaptability, innovation and sustainability as part of Cooktown & Cape York Expo 2021 – The Rising Tide.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said the event would highlight the region’s agribusiness, food futures, eco system services, energy, innovation, advanced manufacturing, liveability, digital connectivity and tourism.

The expo will run from June 11-20. For more information go to cooktownexpo.com.au.