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Canberrans can now recycle and earn some cash without even having to leave the couch with Wednesday’s launch of “Uber for recycling”. The Return-It Collect mobile phone app allows households and businesses to organise a collection of bottles and containers to be recycled through the container deposit scheme. ACT minister for recycling and waste reduction Chris Steel launched the app and said the government hoped it would help increase the amount of material recycled through the container deposit scheme. More than 41 million containers have been recycled through the scheme since its inception in July last year. He said the app would make it easier for people to use the scheme, specially those that cannot get to one of the 21 collection spots. “We know not everyone can get there, older people with mobility issues or businesses that are time poor for example,” Mr Steel said. “For a hospitality business that could mean thousands of bottles on a Saturday night that can be collected within a short time frame so they don’t have to be stored somewhere.” Mr Steel said about 50 per cent of containers sold had been redeemed either through the scheme or through recycling in household yellow bins, a figure the government wanted to increase. “We’re seeing households really embrace the container deposit scheme but we want more businesses to get involved because there are high volumes of containers that are used every day,” he said. The app will be operated by Re.Group, a recycling management and waste recovery company, and managing director David Singh said Canberra was the perfect place to launch the app. “Canberrans are passionate recyclers and also early adopters of technology, like Uber, in fact this is basically Uber for recycling,” Mr Singh said. The uptake in the business community is excpected to be high, Mr Singh said, with some hotel groups already on board and businesses responding well in pilot runs. Psychedeli cafe team member Bob Shreshra said the business was getting on board as they went through a lot of soft drink bottles and it was very convenient. “It’s a good way to contribute back to the environment,” Mr Shreshra said. Mr Singh said it was also a good opportunity for charities to make extra income by supporters recycling containers and then donating funds directly to the charity. The company was working on adding additional materials to the service, such as mobile phones, textiles and a broader range of bottles and containers. The app is available to download and there is no minimum amount to receive a collection, however it was suggested that households save up containers and have them collected in bulk. The app is free but a small fee is charged per container, so a small portion of the refund per container is collected for the service. Mr Singh said the company would continue to test the system to drive the cost as low as possible. For collection purposes Canberra has been broken down into six segments which will be serviced weekly initially, but that will increase with demand.
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Canberrans can now recycle and earn some cash without even having to leave the couch with Wednesday’s launch of “Uber for recycling”.
The Return-It Collect mobile phone app allows households and businesses to organise a collection of bottles and containers to be recycled through the container deposit scheme.
Minister for recycling and waste reduction Chris Steel and managing director of Re.Group David Singh launch an app where Canberrans can organise to have containers collected for the container deposit scheme. Picture: Karleen Minney
ACT minister for recycling and waste reduction Chris Steel launched the app and said the government hoped it would help increase the amount of material recycled through the container deposit scheme.
More than 41 million containers have been recycled through the scheme since its inception in July last year.
He said the app would make it easier for people to use the scheme, specially those that cannot get to one of the 21 collection spots.
“We know not everyone can get there, older people with mobility issues or businesses that are time poor for example,” Mr Steel said.
“For a hospitality business that could mean thousands of bottles on a Saturday night that can be collected within a short time frame so they don’t have to be stored somewhere.”
Psychedeli Cafe’s Bob Shreshra, the business is signing up early to the new app. Picture: Karleen Minney
Mr Steel said about 50 per cent of containers sold had been redeemed either through the scheme or through recycling in household yellow bins, a figure the government wanted to increase.
“We’re seeing households really embrace the container deposit scheme but we want more businesses to get involved because there are high volumes of containers that are used every day,” he said.
The app will be operated by Re.Group, a recycling management and waste recovery company, and managing director David Singh said Canberra was the perfect place to launch the app.
“Canberrans are passionate recyclers and also early adopters of technology, like Uber, in fact this is basically Uber for recycling,” Mr Singh said.
The uptake in the business community is excpected to be high, Mr Singh said, with some hotel groups already on board and businesses responding well in pilot runs.
Psychedeli cafe team member Bob Shreshra said the business was getting on board as they went through a lot of soft drink bottles and it was very convenient.
“It’s a good way to contribute back to the environment,” Mr Shreshra said.
Mr Singh said it was also a good opportunity for charities to make extra income by supporters recycling containers and then donating funds directly to the charity.
The company was working on adding additional materials to the service, such as mobile phones, textiles and a broader range of bottles and containers.
The app is available to download and there is no minimum amount to receive a collection, however it was suggested that households save up containers and have them collected in bulk.
The app is free but a small fee is charged per container, so a small portion of the refund per container is collected for the service.
Mr Singh said the company would continue to test the system to drive the cost as low as possible.
For collection purposes Canberra has been broken down into six segments which will be serviced weekly initially, but that will increase with demand.
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