ACT local Simone Wright and her five-year-old son Dane have been collecting drink containers from around the Gungahlin area for more than a year and recycling them through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). The scheme gives a 10 cent refund for each container and Simone is using the opportunity to top up her son’s bank account.
“We started collecting as Dane was interested in earning money. He then learned that some people earn pocket money or have a job. I wasn’t keen to give him pocket money for doing tasks around the home because I want him to do them without being rewarded, so we thought of collecting containers,” she said.
“We live across from Yerrabi Pond recreation area and do a regular sweep of the park to pick up containers left behind. Dane said he likes collecting the ‘10 cents’ as it will make him rich!”
Simone had a target to return 10,000 containers in 12 months with the $1,000 in container refunds going to her son’s savings. Once they have a few bags of eligible bottles, cartons and cans, they return them at the Mitchell cash-back depot, where Simone deposits the refunds straight into into her nominated savings account.
Simone was surprised she met her $1,000 target in a year. She’s now working towards another $1,000 this year and is confident she’ll reach it again.
“I have had help from my very generous neighbours in our apartment building who set aside their drink containers for us. I’m very humbled and grateful for their contribution. It would have taken longer to reach my goal without it,” she said.
Network operator Return-It recently gave Mitchell cash-back depot a makeover, including rebranding and installing an atomiser to make the container deposit process very easy and convenient.
“The staff at the cash-back depot are so friendly and helpful, and the facilities are great,” Simone said.
To find your nearest return point visit actcds.org.au/return-points/
The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.
