A local family has funded a holiday to Japan thanks to 10c refunds on recycled containers.
And they have revealed a few tips and tricks to help other families do the same.
Crestmead mother Mao has raised more than $4000 in container returns at her local Containers for Change depot so that her daughter, Hina, can meet her grandparents for the first time.
The 10c refund scheme has proved successful in Logan, with locals recycling more than 800 million drink containers through the program since it was launched in 2018.
Last financial year alone, locals redeemed almost $20 million, or 196 million containers –Â a 9.6% increase on the previous financial year.
This financial year, as of December, container return volumes have increased by 12%, representing one of the highest year-on-year increases in the region.
Mao and her family have turned container recycling into a monthly tradition.
They collect containers during walks and store them in a bin at home.
“As new parents, every cent counts,” Mao said.
“It’s amazing how quickly those 10-cent refunds add up.”
She advised locals looking to take advantage of the recycling scheme to:
- ask friends and family to save up their bottles for you to collect if they don’t do the recycling themselves,
- ask your employer if you can bring in a cans and bottles bin to collect them from the workplace,
- carry a bag during morning or afternoon walks to collect containers, and
- use heavy-duty bags or bins for easy transportation.
Mao said the process of redeeming the refund only takes a few minutes, since the Crestmead depot now uses a recycling robot to automate the container-sorting process.
The robot, named the Tip n’ Go, can process 1000 containers a minute.
“It’s so simple, and Hina loves helping out,” Mao said.
“Plus, we’re teaching her about caring for the environment from day one.
“Whether you’re a busy family like us or a community group raising funds, TOMRA’s Tip ‘n’ Go makes recycling effortless and rewarding for everyone.”
