At QT Canberra, sustainability is at the heart of everything they do. Two years ago, the team discovered how simple it was to set up container recycling bins at the hotel to redeem any containers through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) for the 10c refund.
The containers are picked up each week by ReCollect, a collection service run by ACT CDS network operator Return-It.
The ReCollect service is available to any business, organisation or individual in the ACT who has more than 300 containers to collect.
QT Canberra receives a 7c refund for each container collected with ReCollect charging a 3c fee per container to facilitate the collection. QT donate all refunds to local community initiatives, including Ronald McDonald House and the SpringOUT Festival.
Each Canberra QT hotel has dedicated ACT CDS bins for collecting eligible drink containers, which are collected weekly. It was an easy decision for the hotel to add ACT CDS collections to their existing environmental actions such as food waste collection and coffee pod recycling.
“Integrating ACT CDS into our sustainability efforts was a natural progression, inspired by our goal to minimise waste and promote responsible resource management. This setup ensures efficient waste segregation at the source and smooth handling for collection,” said Vincent Maulio, QT Canberra’s Conferencing and Events Operations Manager.
Since implementing ACT CDS collections in May 2023, the hotel has diverted 3,430 kg of waste from landfill while lowering its waste management costs. Hotel guests and staff have also appreciated the opportunity to be part of an effective recycling initiative.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests appreciate seeing tangible sustainability efforts during their stay, enhancing their overall experience. Our staff take pride in contributing to eco-friendly practices, which has fostered a stronger culture of environmental awareness within the team,” QT Canberra Director Ram Agrawal said.
QT Canberra encourages other businesses to follow their lead. Ram advises starting small and scaling up by beginning with key areas and expanding once the system is in place. He noted that staff involvement is crucial, and providing training ensures that everyone understands the process and its impact.
“Using a collection service like ReCollect simplifies logistics and ensures consistent results,” added Ram.
