The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, Queensland Country Bank Stadium (QCBS) and Container Exchange are preparing to celebrate a major recycling milestone at the Cowboys NRL and NRLW home double header on Saturday.
The one millionth drink container is expected to be recycled through the Stadium’s innovative Containers for Change initiative since it commenced in 2022, symbolising the success of the sustainability initiative.
To celebrate the occasion, one lucky recycler will take home a prize pack including 4 Cowboys v Knights tickets, a Cowboys team-signed football.
“We’re extremely pleased to have helped keep more than 1,000,000 plastic and aluminium drink containers out of landfill and it’s even more pleasing to know our patrons are adopting healthy recycling habits” said QCBS General Manager Cameron Jones.
“Queensland Country Bank Stadium is committed to operating in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way to reduce carbon emissions and to play an active role in supporting and enhancing the local community,” he said.
“Containers for Change is one of our programs helping us to achieve that, all the while delivering wonderful hospitality and experiences at our venue.”
QCBS has one of the highest recovery rates for containers sold at Queensland stadiums.
This season it is donating all recycling refunds from its game-day Containers for Change program to the Cowboys Community Foundation, which has been rewarding those choosing the green bins through spot-prizes at each home game.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Cowboys members and fans for getting behind this initiative, it truly makes a huge difference to the environment and to our life-changing community programs,” said Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling.
“So far this season we’ve been averaging around 20,000 containers recycled at each home game, that’s around one per person which has generated more than $15,000 to support our charity” she said.
“It’s great to see the Cowboys’ community making positive environmental choices and if we can recycle every single empty container used at games, just imagine the huge difference we will make together.”
More than 88 million containers were returned through the Containers for Change program in Townsville last year, delivering $8.8 million in 10-cent refunds back into the local community.
Natalie Roach, the Chief Executive Officer of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Containers for Change, said Townsville was home to some of the state’s top recyclers.
“Queensland Country Bank Stadium has done an incredible job making sure it’s easy for patrons and staff to recycle their empties through Containers for Change,” she said.
“Instead of ending up as litter or landfill, these 10-cent containers have been given a second life and helped raised funds for important causes including supporting flood victims in North Queensland.
Community members can also donate their refunds from 10c containers collected from home, school or workplaces directly to the Cowboys Community Foundation’s Containers for Change program, outside of game day.
Simply quote the charity’s Containers for Change member ID C10158306 when depositing containers at a COEX collection depot.
For more information on the Cowboys Community Foundation’s Containers for Change program, visit our website.
Containers for Change – FAQ
- 100% of eligible containers returned through Containers for Change are recycled.
- Most aluminum, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a 10-cent refund.
- Queensland was the first container refund scheme to include glass wine and spirit bottles in the list of beverage containers eligible for the 10-cent refund.
- Glass containers are 100% recycled in Queensland. About three-quarters of the glass is recycled into new bottles, while the other-quarter is used in road base.
- We also answered some of the most common questions here including how to tell if your container is eligible, and if you can return crushed cans.