Turning containers into care, Bin Barnier from Rise Above Capital Region Cancer Relief is supporting local cancer patients by recycling 10c cans through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme.
Bin is the Senior Community Relationship Manager at Rise Above – a not-for-profit organisation that provides non-means-tested financial assistance and support to cancer patients and families in Canberra and the Queanbeyan-Palerang regional area. This includes vouchers for petrol and groceries, establishing pharmacy accounts, the payment of utility bills, exercise physiology and fertility preservation.
“Often when people get a cancer diagnosis it’s an absolute surprise and they’re financially already stretched,” says Bin.
Rise Above is currently supporting 836 cancer patients on a no-questions-asked basis and has seen a 53% growth in patient numbers in the past two years.
According to Bin, “Each year in the Canberra–Queanbeyan-Palerang regional area, there will be 2,400 new cancer cases. Right now, we are supporting 1 in 3 and we’d like to be supporting more.”
Two years ago, Bin moved to Rise Above from OzHarvest. She notes that in the not-for-profit sector, it’s crucial to receive regular and recurring funds.
“I was already rescuing food from going to landfill, so recycling cans was an obvious part of all of that,” says Bin.
Rise Above has partnered with the Canberra Southern Cross Club, where people can drop off eligible drink containers at the club’s Woden and Jamison sites. The charity receives the full 10c refund for every container as a donation.
Bin’s personal goal is to get even more households using the ACT Container Deposit Scheme to give back and explains how easy it is to use the scheme to support Rise Above.
“Put your daily recyclables, your bottles and cans – and next year your wine bottles – in your garage or in a neat storage area and make sure to take your lids off.”
“You can book for a mobile collection through the ReCollect app and can denote Rise Above as being the recipient. This can be a regular collection or an ad hoc collection.”
“Alternatively, collect your bottles and cans and take them to your local depot where you can select Rise Above on-screen or in your Return and Earn app. It’s as simple as a drop and go.”
Bin is hopeful that with the help of everyday recyclers, Rise Above can continue to support more local cancer patients. “If you want to be super glorious to us, we’d love for you to collect from your neighbours’ and family and make it a bigger collection!” “No matter how small, everyone can make a difference for someone facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. It can turn hopelessness into hope,” Bin says
