Community - ACT Container Deposit Scheme

Trading bottles and cans from fresh produce to combat cost of living

teagan.went — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:45:00 +0000

With the rising cost of living affecting many locals, the ACT Container Deposit Scheme is helping keep community pantries stocked in the inner north.

The Ainslie Buy Nothing Group first set up a community pantry in a disused bus shelter, after realising there was a growing need for food support locally. Since then, they have expanded across the Inner North Pantry Network to Braddon, O’Connor and Watson.

The network operates on a “give what you can, take what you need” basis, with neighbours helping neighbours. But to help keep the pantries full and to ensure fresh produce is available, the group began raising funds via the ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

“One of our group members suggested that we ask the community to support the pantry by donating their 10cent-ers. This is been our one constant funding stream,” said Amy Blain, who helps run the Inner North Pantry.

The group has established two drop off points where locals can drop off their empty drink bottles and cans. Amy also picks up containers from neighbours and takes them all to Vinnies Dickson Drop & Go return point.

“The community support has been brilliant. We are delighted that North Ainslie Primary School started collecting cans for the Ainslie pantry this year and have collected 9,970 containers, or nearly $100,” said Amy.

More than $3,600 has been raised through the ACT CDS so far, allowing the group to spend $50 per week on fresh fruit and vegetables from Box Divvy Watson – a food box sharing social enterprise that connects growers and food wholesalers with food hubs in ACT.

“We know that fresh produce is really popular and flies out of the pantries—it’s essential for good health and well-being. We feel this is a great way to turn rubbish into delicious, wholesome fruit and veg we know visitors love and need, but can’t afford,” Amy said.

She added that people are often very happy for their cans and bottles to be donated to the pantry when they might not otherwise donate food or money. “It’s a great way to make better use of recyclables,” Amy said.

Amy said this support is vital as the rising cost of living means that as well as heightened need in the community, fewer people are able to afford to keep donating goods to the pantries.

Find out more about fundraising.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

The post Trading bottles and cans from fresh produce to combat cost of living appeared first on ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

Closing the Loop at Floriade

teagan.went — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 03:35:00 +0000

Closed Loop has once more dramatically reduced waste and landfill created at the annual Floriade event in Canberra, including 46,500 drink containers that were collected during the event to be recycled through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

National Manager of Closed Loop Site Services, Bridget Davis, said the company aims to recycle waste created at events so the materials can be kept in use longer.

“By separating waste into separate resource streams, we often save more than 80 per cent of the waste at Floriade from ending up in landfill,” she said.

The company operates across Australia and New Zealand, managing waste at many major events. By utilising initiatives like the ACT CDS, Closed Loop save waste from landfill through recycling, composting, donating or reusing.

This year $4,650 was raised at Floriade from collecting bottles and cans, a more than 50 per cent increase from 2022.

The funds were split and donated to the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) and Roundabout Canberra, to support their important work for the community. IMF is a health promotion charity that uses running to improve and promote the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Roundabout Canberra provides essential items for babies and children to families in need.

The ACT CDS Impact Calculator also provided the equivalent environmental benefits of recycling these 46,500 containers into new containers instead of using virgin materials, including over 310,000 litres in water savings, 3,204 kilograms saved from landfill, and carbon emissions avoided equivalent to two cars off the road for an entire year.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

The post Closing the Loop at Floriade appeared first on ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

Container recycling helps save lives in Canberra hospitals

teagan.went — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 00:35:00 +0000

Canberra hospitals are converting drink containers into a substantial source of funds by recycling them through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

In a partnership between the Canberra Hospital Foundation (CHF) and the ACT CDS mobile collection service, ReCollect, bottles and cans are collected from Canberra Hospital, with more than 33,000 containers collected so far. This recycling initiative is poised to expand to include more health services in the ACT, all to recycle through the ACT CDS.

The money generated from the container refunds helps with purchasing specialised medical equipment, boosts research funding, and generally helps make life more comfortable for patients.

Canberra Hospital Foundation is a charity organisation committed to enhancing the quality of healthcare in the ACT.

Louiza Blomfield, a spokesperson for the Foundation, highlighted their dedication to making a difference for patients.

“Even if it was just the empty water bottles given to patients that were returned, it would raise significant funds each year,” said Louiza.

In addition to water bottles, the plan is to introduce dedicated recycling bins in healthcare facilities to collect other bottles and cans, involving patients, visitors, and staff across various health facilities. This includes all five walk-in centers, Canberra Hospital, University of Canberra Hospital, and North Canberra Hospital.

“It’s a ‘set and forget’ revenue stream for the foundation. It has the potential to be really massive,” emphasized Louiza.

“We started with a small trial period, but it’s already working so well that we’re looking at expanding it, especially as hospitals have cafeterias with additional potential for container returns.”

Beyond its financial benefits for the Foundation, this initiative aligns perfectly with the broader goal of supporting Canberra Health Services to become more environmentally friendly and contribute to sustainability within the territory.

The staff involved in the trial container recycling program were very excited when they realised the volume of containers that can be collected daily while also supporting patients in the hospitals.

“Individuals just see the one container they put in the recycling bin, but the staff see bins and bins full of containers, so they understand just how many bottles and cans are collected, and the funds that can be generated to help support patients in the hospitals,” Louiza said.

The Canberra Hospital Foundation’s recycling initiative is not just about turning waste into funds, but also about making a positive impact on healthcare and the environment.

Find out more about fundraising.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

The post Container recycling helps save lives in Canberra hospitals appeared first on ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

Recycling club breathes new life into village activities

teagan.went — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 02:33:40 +0000

When Michael Nixon and his wife moved into Goodwin Village Crace, a multi-unit retirement development, he was quick to see the opportunities for container recycling through ACT CDS.

“I realised that there was a lot of people living here, and I saw all these bottles and cans going into the recycling and I thought, ‘Here’s a chance to make a bit of money for the village’,” Mike said.

He organised a team of around a dozen residents, calling themselves “The Bottlos”, to collect and bag the containers. Some of the volunteers also take turns each week dropping the empties at the local return point in Mitchell, just a 10 minute drive away.

“We use the express drop. We just put sticky labels on our bags and leave them there, said Mike. “The drop off system makes it very easy for us—sorting out those admin things is important as people get put off if it’s too complicated.”

As well as setting up a dedicated container bin at the village, Mike said residents collect containers from outside the complex. “Some residents are in walking and cycling groups, and they collect bottles and cans when they go out. Other residents have families who save bottles at home and bring them when they come to visit.”

Together it adds up to a couple of hundred containers per week—or 56,000 over the past five years. The funds raised go back into life in Goodwin Village Crace.

“We support the groups at the village,” explained Mike. “We have an art group we help with equipment, and there are gardening groups here we help out too, as well as other special interest groups.”

He added that they also run social events. “When you’re retired, social contact is important, so we run functions where we provide food and drinks.”

Supporting the recycling team is important as well. “The Bottlos had a celebration and gave ourselves a pat on the back when we reached $5000,” said Mike.

Find out more about fundraising.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

The post Recycling club breathes new life into village activities appeared first on ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

Canberra Airport Retail reaches out with recycling message

teagan.went — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 22:25:08 +0000

With thousands of people streaming through Canberra Airport each day, the retail team saw an opportunity to showcase drink container recycling to a vast audience.

“Being at an airport, we have high exposure and high impact opportunities. In any one day, we could have 4,000 to 5,000 people flying out, so that is a lot of opportunities to show others how easy container recycling is to roll out,” said Canberra Airport Retail Site Manager Luke Tulloch

Dedicated ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) branded purple bins have been placed in the airport’s six cafes and restaurants, and the Canberra Airport Retail team schedules collections by ACT CDS mobile collection service ReCollect when the bins are full using the ReCollect app. The app also allows them to track the number of cans and bottles they have returned through the scheme and amount raised through container refunds.

As well as demonstrating what is possible to airport customers, they are diverting empty containers from landfill, and with the income they generate through the 10c refunds, they are investing in even more environmental initiatives.

“I have had quite a few people reach out to me asking for more details on the ACT CDS program and how they can get involved.

“There is a lot of awareness about the emissions caused by planes, and knowing that we’re doing everything we can at the airport to combat that and make a difference is great,” Luke said.

More than 39,000 containers have been returned through the initiative, with funds going towards initiatives such as installing low energy lighting at the airport. A portion of the funds raised have been donated to OzHarvest.

“The team decided to split the funds fifty-fifty between local charities and environmental activities within the airport,” said Luke.

Luke and the team are thrilled to receive positive feedback from their customers.

“We receive comments like, ‘Oh, it’s great to see you’re recycling here in the airport’, and ‘I wish our café back home would do this’. It really makes our day when we hear this.”

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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