JIMBOOMBA is one of nine Logan locations that will have depot or bag drop offs where individuals and charities can exchange empty cans, glass and plastic bottles for 10c an item when the Queensland government’s Containers for Change launches on November 1.
Two providers will operate collection points in Logan. They are Re.Turn It, which operates cash for container services in the ACT and Envirobank, in Sydney.
Re.Turn It will operate more than 100 depots across the state including collection points at Jimboomba, Browns Plains, Hillcrest, Beenleigh, Eaglby, Hillcrest, Logan Central and Meadowbrook.
Envirobank will launch at 48 Queensland locations including Browns Plains, Logan Central and Loganholme.
There will also be collection points at nearby Springfield and Tamborine Mountain.
Locations will be announced as the start date draws closer.
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A Re.Turn It spokesperson said charities would be the major beneficiaries with groups able to deposit items they collected for refund or individuals given the choice of taking cash themselves or donating to a registered charity.
The spokesman said drop off locations would not be announced until closer to November 1 to stop people depositing rubbish at the locations before setup.
Envirobank Queensland development manager Kim Lewis said the group would operate pop-up sites in places like parks and manage requests from those who would deposit containers as a permanent arrangement.
“Councils, Logan included, may not relish the idea of becoming a default source for information, but nor are they shying away from it and they are resourcing themselves accordingly,” he said.
Boomerang Alliance, a community group dedicated to a zero waste future, lobbied to get the scheme up.
Queensland manager Toby Hutcheon said it had just finished a tour of the state talking to community organisation who would be the big beneficiaries of the program.
“We did a total of 32 forums around Queensland, Logan included and engaged with about 2000 representatives from community organisations,” he said.
“The basic formula is we produce three billion drinks containers in Queensland each year that will attract a refund from November 1. Even if that refund is only 10 cents a container, that is $30 million that will be distributed among scouts, girl guides, school and church and other groups.
“So charities make money when people do a good thing and this also helps keep Queensland free from litter.”
Mr Hutcheon said Cash for Containers would launch with 230 refund points around Queensland from November 1.
“We’ll find out then if that’s enough or we are going to need more. Over the course of time we’ll see what the scheme looks like as people get used to recycling their drink containers.”
Local governments and private sector waste operators have confronted challenges over 12 months, including interstate transport of waste, the impact of China’s policy on recyclables and a State government plan to introduce policy reform including a waste levy and the Containers for Change refund scheme.
A $70 per tonne waste levy will be introduced under a proposal the Queensland government says will not have a direct cost for households.
The plan aims to stem the tide of New South Wales trucks coming across the border to dump thousands of tonnes of rubbish in Queensland landfills.
Queensland is the only mainland state without a waste levy. It was scrapped under Campbell Newman's LNP government in 2012 when it was $35 a tonne.
