75m reasons we love to recycle

DARLING Downs residents have returned more than 75 million containers through Containers for Change in its first year, as the State Government scheme continues to grow.

Since its inception, the scheme has created more than 40 jobs across the region and injected $7.5 million back into the Darling Downs economy.

Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the popularity of the scheme had far exceeded expectations.

“The volume of returned containers we have seen over the past year has been about a third higher than predicted,” Ms Enoch said.

“These containers were the second most littered item in our state, but since the scheme started there has been a greater than 35 per cent reduction of containers ending up as litter.”

The State Government announced on Friday - marking the scheme’s first anniversary it would provide $60,000 to 10 Darling Downs groups to continue its growth.

One of those recipients is Teen Challenge Queensland, a not-for-profit that provides support services to marginalised and vulnerable young people.

“We have contacted a number of businesses, churches and our supporters to promote the Recycle for Change project and have been overwhelmed with the response,”

executive director Joanne

Hobbs said.

“Teen Challenge staff and volunteers provide weekly pick-ups for all participating businesses, churches etc, and bins are provided at our property in Toowoomba as a dropoff point.

“Our project not only helps reduce plastic pollution and promotes recycling, but also raises funds for young Australians who are struggling with addictions to receive the residential care they desperately need.”

On average, 3.4 million containers are returned across Queensland every day - totalling 1 billion across the first year.