Recycling refund scheme: Why these Gold Coasters won’t be exchanging their containers for cash

Refund delays, unannounced closures and turnbacks are frustrating Gold Coasters lining up to use the State Government’s new bottle and can recycling scheme. One furious local says it has actually left him out-of-pocket.

REFUND delays, unannounced closures and turnbacks are frustrating Gold Coasters lining up to use the State Government’s new bottle and can recycling scheme.

The Government says that since the Container Refund Scheme was launched in November 1, more than 60,000 Queenslanders have signed up to receive their 10-cent refund on containers and almost 50 million drink containers have been returned.

But there are Gold Coasters who are fed up already.

Surfers Paradise man Rob Hill said he has quit the scheme altogether because complications have left him frustrated and out of pocket.

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Rob Hill has been frustrated by the Government's new recycling scheme and from now on will just put them in the Council bin. Picture Glenn Hampson

He had been collecting cans and bottles over the past few months to assist a friend, Phillipa Douglas who is suffering from terminal cancer.

For Ms Douglas, the bottles were a small source of regular income, helping to pay for fuel that is used to get her to treatment and to visit friends.

But logistical delays at their local depot at Ashmore, operated by Envirobank, had led to a number of closures, according to Mr Hill.

“When we started it was about wanting to help out, but it has been problem after problem,” Mr Hill said.

Ms Douglas said depot closures, caused by overcapacity storage sheds, had meant the pair had been forced to make multiple journeys to the centre to try to drop off their bottles and cans, leaving them out of pocket.

“We were picking up quite a few a week but they have been their own worst enemies, we are only two months in and it is more trouble than it is worth,” Ms Douglas said.

She said she had been turned away at least twice because they could not be processed.

GOLD COAST RECYCLING BOOM AHEAD

The scheme began last month Picture: Supplied.

“In fairness to them it is a new system, but you would have thought they would work it out,” Ms Douglas said.

“Bottles have been piled up to the roof when they were turning people away, because trucks just didn’t arrive.

“Other times I have waited up to 45 minutes to exchange cans and bottles. We need more facilities or something streamlined, not different companies running different depots.”

At one point Ms Douglas called Envirobank to find out if the depot had reopened, only to be told they didn’t know, but to call and let them know when she found out.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“When you try (getting paid) through the collection point, which is your only other option, it can take around three weeks or you need to chase it up,” she said.

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There have been teething problems for the scheme. Picture: Supplied.

Despite some people throwing in the towel, demand for the service remains, with long lines developing at the cash in hand depots the day after Boxing Day.

A regular user of the Envirobank depot in Hinde St, Ashmore, said they had seen lines of people streaming out to the road on busy days.

The Gold Coast Bulletin approached Envirobank for comment but did not receive a response.

The company policy also prevented employees at the Ashmore depot from commenting.

The scheme’s organising body, Container Exchange, said it had not yet held an audit of Gold Coast facilities and subcontractors.

“Container Exchange does not divulge details of audits carried out across its network. However, we can say no audit has occurred in this area,” chief executive officer Ken Noye said.