From 1 November, Queensland will be the first state in Australia to accept glass wine and pure spirit bottles for 10-cent refunds in its container refund scheme – Containers for Change.
“Our decision to include glass wine and pure spirit bottles followed an extensive consultation period, during which more than 6,600 Queenslanders shared their thoughts about including additional containers in the refund program,” said Queensland Government Environment Minister Leanne Linard.
“The Department of Environment and Science and Container Exchange have been actively engaging with wine manufacturers to help them prepare for the expansion. In recent weeks, I have also met with representatives from peak bodies representing wine and spirit producers and I thank them for their cooperation in implementing this important initiative.”
“With glass wine and pure spirit bottles eligible for refunds from 1 November, Queenslanders now have even more reasons to become change makers and share in the environmental and economic benefits of the Containers for Change scheme,” said Container Exchange CEO Natalie Roach.
“With the addition of wine and spirit bottles to Containers for Change from 1 November we look forward to welcoming even more customers to our refund points across the state so they can continue to make the change that matters.”
Since the Containers for Change container refund scheme began on 1 November, 2018:
- More than 7.1 billion containers have been received
- More than $710 million has been returned to Queenslanders, including almost $11 million which has been paid to charities and community groups.
- More than 935 jobs have been created for Queenslanders.
- Since 1 January 2023, a record 1.23 billion containers have been returned
- Before the scheme was launched, only 18 per cent of drink containers were being recovered and recycled in Queensland. The current rate is almost 64 per cent.
From Wednesday, 1 November Queenslanders will get 10 cents for every glass wine and spirit bottle, from 150 millilitres to 3 litres.
More than 360 container refund points are across the state, including as far and wide as Badu Island in the Torres Strait and Birdsville in the state’s far west. You can find your closest refund centre at the Container for Change website.
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