Mansfield State School and Mansfield State High School, along with 28 other Queensland state schools, will be taking part in a pilot project to find ways for schools to get actively involved in the recently launched Container Refund Scheme.
The government will be providing a grant of $100,000 towards the $150,000 total cost for P&Cs Queensland to undertake the pilot project. The project is aimed at encouraging schools to find ways to get involved in the waste reduction efforts of the government.
Beginning November 2018, the Container Refund Scheme allows customers to exchange eligible containers for a 10-cent refund per item. Eligible containers include those made from glass, plastic, aluminium, or liquid paper board, ranging from 150 ml to 3 litres in size.
“This is a fantastic scheme and one that I would love to see school communities from across the State get behind,” Education Minister Grace Grace said.
“The participating schools will trial ways to collect containers within their school communities and work to harness the energy of everyone associated with their school, including parents and carers, students and teachers.
“P&Cs Qld will report back to the government by mid-2019 on the success of the pilot project and we hope to use these findings to encourage more schools to join the scheme,” Ms Grace said.
Most Queensland schools will one day benefit from this scheme, Ms Grace said. Like other countries that offered financial incentives to boost success of their recycling programs, the current initiative could increase the approximate 40 per cent recycling rate that Queensland has now, to up to 80 per cent.
Video Credit: Return-It/YouTube
In partnership with Refund Point Operators—Return.It Schools and Envirobank–Bag Drop Pilot, P&Cs Qld will work with the following state schools across Queensland:
Brisbane Southside
- Chatswood Hills State School
- Kimberley Park State School
- Loganholme State School
- Mansfield State High School
- Mansfield State School
- Robertson State School
- Rochedale South State School
- Shailer Park State High School
Brisbane Northside
- Albany Creek State School
- Aspley State Special School
- Aviation High
- Earnshaw State College
- Eatons Hill State School
- Mitchelton State Special School
- Nundah State School
- Wooloowin State School
Cairns
- Balaclava State School
- White Rock State School
- Yorkeys Knob State School
Gold Coast
- Bellevue Park State School
- Coombabah State School
Sunshine Coast
- Mountain Creek State High School
Townsville
- Currajong State School
- Pimlico State High School
- Townsville Central State School
- Townsville Community Learning Centre
- Townsville South State School
- Woodstock State School
Toowoomba
- Harristown State High School
- Highfields State School
Return.It Schools – Purple Wheelie Bin Pilot
Envirobank – Bag Drop Pilot
“We see the Container Refund Scheme pilot program as an ideal opportunity to establish on-site donation points in Queensland state schools and we will be working with Refund Point Operators on a sustainable and safe plan to maximise benefits flowing to these schools,” P&Cs Qld President Gayle Walters said.
“The scheme has the potential to provide invaluable education for our students on caring for their environment as well as providing a real boost to P&C funding,” Ms Walters said.