New Adelaide business for direct cans and bottles to depot service launches

Cans and bottles can be collected from homes and businesses with cash transferred directly to bank accounts or charities in a new service launched in Adelaide.

A local business is streamlining recycling in Adelaide homes, offering an Uber-style can deposit service with the cash directly transferred to an elected bank account.

Project manager for Direct Collect, Harry DeRuiter, 27, said the service launched in Adelaide on September 2 offering a free bin collection service to homes from Willunga in the south to Gawler in the North.

Residents are able to order a collection bin online, and fill it with a minimum 220 cans, more if crushed, before ordering a pick up from Direct Collect workers who will take the cans to a depot.

The cans and bottles will be processed using a system developed in SA which place the containers on a conveyor belt before a machine counts the items accurately.

The customer is eligible for 6 cents per can, or 7 cents per can if a one-off $35 fee is paid.

The cash will be transferred directly to the consumer’s account, or to an elected charity.

“We’re really just trying to get bottles and cans out of the yellow bin, for people that have for various reasons given up going to a depot, they’re time poor or they can’t get there,” Mr DeRuiter said.

Kelsey Raphael with her son Nico, 4, and Harry DeRuiter from Direct Collect, a new company offering Uber-style bottle collection. Picture: Emma Brasier

“Or if the 10 cents doesn't mean much to them … why not sign up to a charity and give the money to a good cause?” he said.

At present, the Sammy D Foundation is the elected charity but Mr DeRuiter said Direct Collect was currently seeking new charities to be added to the scheme.

At this stage, the service excludes residents in the Adelaide Hills.

Mr DeRuiter encouraged local sporting clubs, and businesses to get on board with the service.

“We not just to homes, we’re also targeting offices, businesses and warehouses where they wouldn’t have a system in place at the moment, so the money can go into their social fund or to a charity of their choice,” He said.

Mr DeRuiter urged people to ensure they place their bin in a secure location, not on the kerb of the road, and instruct drivers in the notes section on how to access the bin.

“If they're just currently throwing the cans away, there’s definitely someone that could do with the money, really our overriding message is stop throwing money away,” he said.

The service is available at direct-collect.com.au