CASHING IN ON CANS HELPS COMMUNIT Y
THE Hinchinbrook Shire and Cassowary Coast has passed a major milestone, with residents exchanging 30 million containers for $3 million.
“Between our three depots in Innisfail, Tully and Ingham, we’ll be doing 30 million containers, which is $3 million back into the local communities of Hinchinbrook and Cassowary Coast in the last 18 months,” Louise Lannen, MAMS Group business manager said said. S Speaking ki at the Ingham depot Mrs Lannen said Hinchinbrook had recycled nine million drinks containers, generating $900,000 for the local community.
“We’ve had a really good response, the support here has been really great … the schools are supporting it, we’ve got a lot of community groups, not-for-profits, really getting involved to fundraise,” she said.
MAMS operations manager Josh Lannen said the Containers for Change Scheme recycled materials and reduced waste in landfills.
The company is a North Queensland-family owned business that has provided more than 25 years of service in domestic recycling service for the Hinchinbrook Shire.
“We employ six full-time staff, three part-time staff and two casual staff in the container refund and recycling area out of 50 staff in the MAMS team.”
Bernice Day, founding director of MAMS Group said the business wanted to partner with the community “in order to make a difference to saving our environment”.
“We are thankful for all our staff and the commitment they make to our business,” she said.
“We know we are a family business, and without them we could not have achieved what is an exceptional milestone in recycling.”
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said as well as the $3 million, MAMS had injected a further $1.6 million into the community in wages.
“It’s a massive benefit for jobs for the region but also all those sporting and community groups,” he said.