Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Container Exchange ready for one millionth drink container to be recycled

This weekend’s Cowboys double header will make history, as the one millionth drink container is expected to be recycled at the stadium.

Cowboys players Xavier Kerrisk and Makenzie Weale.

North Queensland is scoring goals both on and off the field, as Queensland Country Bank Stadium prepares to celebrate a major recycling milestone at this Saturday’s NRL and NRLW home double header.

As part of the stadium’s Containers for Change initiative which began in 2022, the one millionth drink container is expected to be recycled over the weekend.

General manager of the stadium Cameron Jones said he was “extremely pleased” to have helped keep more than 1,000,000 plastic and aluminium drink containers out of landfill, but said it’s even more pleasing to know patrons are adopting healthy recycling habits.

“Queensland Country Bank Stadium is committed to operating in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way to reduce carbon emissions and to play an active role in supporting and enhancing the local community,” he said.

“Containers for Change is one of our programs helping us to achieve that, all the while delivering wonderful hospitality and experiences at our venue.”

Cowboys players Xavier Kerrisk and Makenzie Weale.

This year, all recycling refunds from the Cowboys game-day Containers for Change program are being donated to the Cowboys Community Foundation.

One lucky recycler will take home a prize pack, including four Cowboys versus Knights tickets, a Cowboys 2025 team-signed football, and the iconic Townsville Monopoly board game.

More than 88 million containers were returned through the Containers for Change program in Townsville last year, delivering $8.8 million in 10-cent refunds back into the local community.

Chief Executive Officer of Container Exchange Natalie Roach said Townsville was home to some of the state’s top recyclers.

“Instead of ending up as litter or landfill, these 10-cent containers have been given a second life and helped raised funds for important causes including supporting flood victims in North Queensland and the Cowboys charity,” she said.

Community members can also donate their refunds from 10c containers collected from home, school or workplaces directly to the Cowboys Community Foundation’s Containers for Change program, outside of game day by quoting the charity’s Containers for Change member ID C10158306 when depositing containers at a COEX collection depot.

For more information visit the Cowboys Community Foundation’s Containers for Change program website.

Originally published as Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Container Exchange ready for one millionth drink container to be recycled