More than 440 million containers have been returned in the first six months of Queensland's container refund scheme.
Today marks six months since the start of Queensland's Containers for Change, and Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the initiative had been an incredible success.
"This scheme has created more than 630 new jobs and continues to go from strength to strength, providing financial incentives for recycling containers and encouraging more business opportunities and jobs across Queensland," Ms Enoch said.
"It has also created a funding stream for our charities and community groups.
"With more than 440 million containers returned, this means more than $44 million has been returned to individuals, charities and community organisations."
Under the scheme, people receive a 10-cent refund for recycling their cans and bottles at refund points across the state.
"It has been wonderful to see Queenslanders embracing this recycling opportunity over the past six months," Minister Enoch said.
"The popularity of the scheme had exceeded expectations from the beginning, and the volume of returned containers is about a third higher than predicted.
"This success has meant more jobs have been created, and that will continue to grow.
"Queensland is also becoming a much cleaner place, thanks to the public's enthusiasm for the scheme that refunds 10 cents per container."
More than 168,900 Queenslanders have a Scheme ID with Containers for Change, along with more than 2,290 community groups, schools, charities and sporting clubs which are benefiting from the refunds.
Ken Noye, CEO of Container Exchange (COEX), the not-for-profit organisation that runs the scheme, said as well as the new Hervey Bay depot, new depots have opened in Cooroy, Yamanto and Airlie Beach in recent weeks.
"We now have more than 270 sites accepting containers for refunds, and by December we expect to have a total of 307 sites operating, providing jobs for even more people," Mr Noye said.
"COEX will continue to grow the Containers for Change scheme to provide more refund points, more jobs and more refunds on containers," he said.
