Gold Coast ‘Containers for change’ launch bungled on day one

THE first day of the state government’s ‘Containers for change’ recycling scheme has been an embarrassing fiasco, leaving budding recyclers disappointed.

THE first day of the State Government’s container recycling scheme on the Gold Coast has been an embarrassing flop, with budding recyclers finding themselves at vacant lots, childcare centres or without a drop-off zone altogether.

A number of drop-off sites advertised on the ‘Containers for change’ website were found to be closed or simply non-existent on the opening day of the long-anticipated State Government program.

Residents looking to exchange their containers for 10 cents each at one advertised drop-off point in Arundel were left perplexed when the listed address directed them to a childcare centre.

The address for another drop-off site at Southport led hopeful recyclers to a vacant business facility.

Op-shop drop-off sites on the Gold Coast were no better.

A container exchange at Bunnings in Arundel. The website had listed the spot as a permanent drop-off zone however only a temporary drop-off facility was in place.

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A number visited by the Gold Coast Bulletin were turning people away because they had not had adequate training to operate the machines.

Another told the Gold Coast Bulletin they had only received training that day.

“It is all a bit confused but we are getting there,” an Arundel resident hoping to exchange their collected containers told the Bulletin.

Runaway Bay residents were also left disappointed.

Last week the not-for-profit operator Container Exchange (CoEx) listed a drop-off and reverse vending machine facility which would operate at the Runaway Bay Shopping Village.

Instead hopeful recyclers were turned away because the machine had simply not shown up.

Owner Damien Wooford and worker Totai Tunui at a functioning Containers for Change collection point in Staplyton, one of the few where there were no problems reported. Picture: Jerad Williams

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One staff member at the centre told the Gold Coast they weren’t even aware of the program taking place, despite the site being advertised on the official website in the lead up to the program’s launch.

“We had about 20 people turn up this morning with bags of bottles asking where the drop-off was, but there is nothing here,” they said.

The listed drop-off had since been removed from the Containers for Change website.

AEIOU foundation's childcare centre for children with Autism, which was listed as a drop-off zone on the Containers for Change website. Staff were unaware of the program.

When questioned on the issues in Parliament today Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch was unable to explain the delays.

“This morning I tabled the sites that have been opened today, and we have more than exceeded the 232 sites that we had targeted for the beginning of this scheme,” she said.

“This is the very beginning of this scheme. We are in this for the long game. This is about the

future of our state.

“Every target that was set for CoEx to deliver the Container Refund Scheme in this state has been met and in some instances exceeded.”