Shocking way Aussie bloke has racked up some extra cash while exercising

A Victorian man has revealed how he has made daily exercising a profitable side hustle.

More than 10,000 cans and bottles were returned. Picture: @beauisms/Instagram

An Aussie bloke from Victoria has found a way to get paid for jogging, which does not include downloading any sketchy “get paid to walk” apps.

Author and father-of-two Beau Miles, 43, has combined his jogging hobby with picking up rubbish on the sides of the road.

The self-proclaimed “rubbish runner” picks up bottles and cans in Jindivick, a town in West Gippsland.

“I just love looking good on the side of the road picking up stuff,” Mr Miles joked to 7NEWS.

More than 10,000 bottles and cans were collected by him and dropped off at Victoria’s newly introduced Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

Beau has turned his jogging hobby into a side gig. Picture: @beauisms/Instagram

The scheme allows Victorians to return eligible aluminium, glass, and plastic bottles or cans and receive 10c per item, earning Mr Miles a whopping $1000.

“I did this as a kid and now it’s back. I just think it’s bloody brilliant,” he said.

“And now there are these shiny 10c pieces everywhere — my eyes lit up and I’m a 10-year-old again.”

Mr Miles and his friend Jim Graham were among the first people in the state to deposit their cans and bottles, going as far as camping outside the container redemption centre.

“After 14 months of running about the place with old chaffee bags, me and my filthy mate Jim finally redeemed our truck load of roadside loot,” Mr Miles wrote in an Instagram post.

“I figure this collecting for the container deposit scheme is a win-win because I can earn 10 cents a can, clean up the side of the road and you go for a run at the same time,” he said to The Age.

Beau picks up rubbish on the sides of roads. Picture: @beauisms/Instagram

Mr Miles has also written a book, The Backyard Adventurer, based on his childhood and the lessons his parents taught him on the importance of reusing and recycling.

Earlier this year Mr Miles attempted to cash in the cans and bottles by driving a truck 400 kilometres to Albury, NSW, bringing awareness to the lack of a container deposit scheme in Victoria.

In a video posted to YouTube he says he was inspired by Seinfield characters, who try and exploit the can redemption scheme by driving to another town.

His plans did not go ahead, as he was turned away due to not being a local.

The Container Deposit Scheme was launched in Victoria on the 1st of November and has seen more than 30 million containers recycled in the first few weeks.

The scheme is part of the Victorian Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling sector.

Numerous container return points are all across the state. Picture: Vic Gov

“Our new Container Deposit Scheme is now open, which will reduce the amount of litter in Victoria by up to half - contributing to a more sustainable future, while putting money back in the pockets of hardworking Victorians,” Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said.

“CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products and keep them out of landfill.”

Victorians use more than three billion drink containers each year and many are not recycled, ending up in landfill and as litter in local communities across the state.

Most aluminium, glass, plastic and carton drink containers between 150mL and 3 litres are eligible to be returned.

Victorians can also choose to donate their 10c refund to a charity or community organisation registered with the scheme.

Originally published as Shocking way Aussie bloke has racked up some extra cash while exercising