The community benefit of the Containers for Change program has been highlighted as IMPACT Community Services’ Managing Director Tanya O’Shea recently had the opportunity to showcase the initiative in a video.
The Containers for Change program, a recycling initiative aimed at reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability, has been a cornerstone of IMPACT’s efforts to make a positive difference in the community.
The Bundaberg not-for-profit organisation was named Container Exchange Small Operator of the Year at the 2023 Changemaker Awards for its efforts in providing job opportunities to Wide Bay workers with a disability.
In the interview produced by Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that implements Containers for Change in Queensland on behalf of the Queensland Government, Mrs O’Shea shared insights into the program’s impact on the community and its success in promoting recycling and waste reduction.
She also discussed the importance of partnerships and collaboration in achieving sustainable outcomes.
“After successfully establishing our Container Refund Point at University Drive, we sought additional ways to contribute to the community,” Mrs O’Shea said.
Partnering with Green Solutions Wide Bay, which provides residents with a free and convenient green waste drop-off and disposal site that turns green waste into compost, allowed IMPACT to create a second container refund point at Qunaba — one that is highly innovative.
“The container refund point at Qunaba is solar-powered, we hadn’t done that before, and it’s mobile, so we could actually lift and shift to another site if we needed to into the future,” she said.
The partnership between IMPACT Community Services and Green Solutions Wide Bay is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing environmental challenges while creating opportunities for the community.
“Our vision at IMPACT Community Services is improving lives, and an important part of that is creating meaningful employment opportunities for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” Tanya said.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share the success of our Container for Change program with CoEx and the wider community.
“This program is not only about recycling; it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives and contributing to a more sustainable future.”
“We’re incredibly proud of our workers.
“They are 110% making an environmental impact within our community.”
