PRESS RELEASE: MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT CELEBRATES RECYCLING FOR REDBANK RESIDENTS

Residents of Redbank Plains have greater convenience in recycling with the latest Containers for Change refund point in the area off to a flying start in the first weeks of operation.

Beveridge Container Recycling’s new depot in Redbank Plains accepts eligible beverage containers for a 10-cent refund through the state-wide Containers for Change scheme.

Recycling-keen locals have already refunded 370,000 containers since the new site at 140 Eagle St, Redbank Plains was opened in late December.

To celebrate the success of the new depot, Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon officially opened the new site on Wednesday 2 February.

She said the new depot has already presented local residents with more choice in the way they recycled drink containers.

“Clearly residents in the Ipswich region are doing a great job with recycling their eligible containers, with 48 million containers already redeemed in the area this financial year,” said Ms Scanlon.

“Each new recycling point is benefiting local communities and creating jobs as well as creating a positive environmental impact.”

Jason Beveridge, Managing Director of Beveridge Container Recycling who operates the new Redbank Plains depot says there has been demand around the Ipswich area for more container refund points.

The new site is the latest addition to the region, following on from the successful Containers for Change site at Yamanto, which opened in April 2019 and has recycled a total of 54 million containers.

Mr Beveridge said the addition of the Redbank Plains site will bolster the already thriving recycling spirit in the region, with Yamanto setting the benchmark for success.

“We are always looking for ways to improve, we believe our Yamanto facility is one of the best in the state and Redbank Plains will replicate, as much as possible, our operation there,” he said.

“Recycling, in general, is good for many reasons as it reduces energy use and therefore greenhouse gas emissions.

“It also reduces the chance of plastics entering the ocean and waterways and the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

“The Containers for Change scheme has the added benefits of reducing beverage containers being discarded on the roadside and providing a source of funding for anyone who chooses to recycle eligible containers.”

More than five billion containers have been returned and $500 million in refunds have been claimed since the scheme began in Queensland just over three years ago in November 2018.

Ken Noye is the chief executive of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that operates the Containers for Change scheme.

“This new depot is one of many more opening during 2022, giving Queenslanders even more convenient ways to recycle through the Containers for Change scheme,” said Mr Noye.

“Beveridge Container Recycling Redbank Plains offers great incentive to charities, community groups and individuals keen to raise funds by recycling drink containers.

“The increased access to recycling in this fast-growing suburb will make it more convenient for people and community groups in the area to return those containers for a 10-cent refund.”

Beveridge Container Recycling Redbank Plains is open Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm and the weekends from 9am – 2pm.

For more information on the Containers for Change scheme, please visit www.containersforchange.com.au/qld.