No change yet for Maranoa residents

As QLD moves forward with Container for Change, kinks are still to be flattened out in the southwest.

IT'S COMING: Regional councillors Geoff McMullen and David Schefe have supported the Container for Change scheme in the Maranoa. Picture: Molly Hancock

WHILE the rest of Queensland moved forward with the Container for Change collection scheme yesterday, Maranoa Regional Council has yet to sign off on their approval.

It was hoped the two collection locations would be ready for the beginning of the month, however it will be stalled until further notice, as logistics and operations details are still being ironed out.

Councillor Geoff McMullen, who has the Portfolio for Waste, said the council was still awaiting notification from CoEx, the external not-for-profit organisation that is running the state-wide scheme, regarding logistics and overall operation in the Maranoa.

"As well as the restrictions surrounding how the material will be sorted," he said.

"For example, whether the cans are able to be crushed."

The council anticipates the scheme will be rolled out this month and promises to advise residents as soon as the date is determined.

"Once the scheme has commenced, council will be hosting a day to assist those wishing to register with the scheme," Cr McMullen said.

"More information will be provided as soon as the details are confirmed."

Cr McMullen advises residents to start collecting containers in anticipation of the commencement.

"It's a scheme that will give residents an incentive to collect and return containers for recycling," he said.

"Council is looking forward to its commencement very soon."

The Maranoa region has been approved for a collection site at the Roma Refuse Site on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4pm, as well as at the Mitchell Customer Service Centre on Mondays from 1-4pm.

Users of the program will receive 10 cents for every container they recycle. The council receives 61/4 cents as part of the scheme.

The council will not pay scheme users with cash, instead eligible refunds will be paid through an independent IT system.

CoEx will accept plastic drink bottles, glass bottles and aluminium cans.

The state-wide implementation follows two years of Queensland Government planning.

A full list of eligible containers can be found at www.qld.gov.au/ environment/pollution/ management/waste/ recovery/reduction/ container-refund/ container-refund-types.