More than 400 million eligible containers have been returned in the first six months of Queensland's container refund scheme with over 2,118,845 from the two refund points located in Mount Isa.
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The refund points are located at the Mount Isa City Council Waste Facility at Jessop Drive and Mt Isa Metal Recyclers on Duchess Road.
Refunds have been returned through scheme account IDs to individuals and community organisations.
Vickie Glanville from the Mt Isa Metal Recyclers refund point said the positive feedback from local customers, charity and community groups confirms the increase of support for recycling through the Containers for Change initiative.
"We're also seeing an increase in Scheme IDs being set up which allows people from Duchess, Boulia and Camooweal to bring in their containers for refund by direct deposit.
"Customers have the option of donating to their favourite charity or community group through the bag drop facility which is available 24/7, if they wish.
"Be sure to include the charity or community group Scheme ID when you drop your containers in," she said.
Regional breakdown:
Greater Brisbane: 174.2 million
Gold Coast: 36.8 million
Sunshine Coast: 19.9 million
South East (including Ipswich): 3.5 million
Darling Downs: 28 million
Wide Bay: 35.9 million
Fitzroy/Central Queensland: 30.6 million
Mackay: 11.9 million
Townsville/North Queensland: 33.3 million
Cairns/Far North Queensland: 26.5 million
South West: 5.9 million
In April the Palaszczuk Government commissioned Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) to analyse the price impacts on beverages in the first year of the container refund scheme.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said QPC will monitor and report on prices of a number of beverages and the impacts across a range of consumers, suppliers and retailers.
"It has now been six months since the start of Containers for Change and it's been wonderful to see so many Queenslanders jump on board with this recycling initiative, which has seen more than 440 million containers returned and more than 630 jobs created so far," she said.
"Queensland's scheme is a product stewardship model, which is the same as container refund schemes operating in NSW, SA, ACT and the Northern Territory.
"We want to ensure that beverage companies are acting fairly and that prices are in line with the costs of the scheme.
"We will not tolerate any unreasonable price increases on any range of beverages in Queensland."
The Queensland Productivity Commission has released an issues paper, and Queenslanders have been invited to respond.
"I encourage all Queenslanders to have their say on beverage pricing," Ms Enoch said.
As part of its review, QPC will specifically monitor the effect of the scheme on prices of beverages sold in Queensland in an eligible container, the effect of the scheme on competition for beverages and the performance and conduct of beverage manufacturers and retailers and any other specific market impacts on consumers that arise from the commencement of the scheme.
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