Gold Coast siblings cashing in on recycling scheme by recycling other people’s cans

The Gold Coast’s youngest entrepreneurs are out to help their bank balances and the planet — all before bedtime.

THE Gold Coast’s youngest entrepreneurs are out to help their bank balances and the planet — all before bedtime.

Gold Coast siblings Gabriella Pires-Dofter, 10, and Ollie and Liliana Montgomery are making the most of the new cash-for-cans scheme, earning a whopping $1000 in just two months.

Instead of collecting their own cans and bottles and claiming 10c for each, the trio have started a collection business offering a partnership.

CONFUSION OVER RECYCLING SCHEME ON COAST

Gabriella, 10, Liliana, 2, and Ollie, 9, with some of the cans and bottles they collected. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

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“They collect the bottles and cans and give you five cents back for each one collected, essentially they split the profits,” mother Apolonia Montgomery said.

The children came up with the idea during their first visit to a deposit centre.

“It was just after the scheme started, we dropped off a load and they were amazed they could get money for the bottles,” Ms Montgomery said.

The trio have collected many bottles. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

Gabriella said they plan to buy a holiday to NZ in February and are wanting to buy gifts and souvenirs for family and friends back here.

“We both share some responsibilities like handing out the flyers, collecting the cans and bottles for people,” she said.

“Ollie (9) is more the muscle man and does most of the counting and picking up of cans.”

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Gabriella organises payment for people and navigates to each house, she also keeps on top of mum to put up ads on social media.

“Our cousins now want to start collecting,” Ms Montgomery said.

It isn’t just all hard work and recycling for the kids, two-year-old Liliana’s favourite part of the job is being treated to icy poles by some of her can counters.

On January 4 the Container Refund scheme cracked the 100 million returned containers mark.

The new scheme on the Gold Coast has however been revealed to be under excess pressure.

Earlier this month the Bulletin revealed multiple closures and long lines at a popular deposit sites, due to transport delays. More than 70,000 Queenslanders have registered for the scheme, with thousands of charities, community groups, sporting clubs and schools on board.