Instead of throwing them in the bin, collecting bottles, cans and cartons that are marked on the label or beverage container with either ‘10c refund at collection depots when sold in SA’ or ‘10c refund at SA/NT collection depots in State/Territory of purchase’, will make you money when you take them to a ‘Super Collector’ such as Pooraka Bottle and Can depot Adelaide.
Count how many containers you drink that have one of these markings on the side; you’ll be amazed how many you go through in a week. Now multiply that number by 0.10 to find out how much money is going in to the bin each week, then multiply that number by 52 (number of weeks in a year) to see how much could be in your pocket at the end of just 1 year.
A typical family of 4 can consume anywhere from 25 to upwards of 50 containers each week, which is 1,300 to over 2,600 containers in a year, adding up to $130 and over $260 per annum.
Now for the exciting maths! If a school has 200 students…
The school could be making anything from $26,000 to over $52,000 in a year! More than enough to buy some really cool stuff for your school.
How To Get Your School Involved
Meet With Your Principal/School Council Bodies
Approach your schools Principal, student council or Governing Council and ask them to organise collection points for the different types of containers.
One for plastic bottles, one for cans, one for glass bottles and one for milk cartons that qualify for the South Australian Governments 10c deposit refund scheme. If your school does not have space for 4 large containers, just one to put everything in will do.
Talk About The Benefits Of Recycling
Raise awareness in the classroom about the importance of recycling; the benefits of recycling v containers ending up in land fill dumps, plus of course the financial benefit to the school.
School newsletters are a good way of getting the message home for parents to help support; explaining what containers qualify for the 10c refund.
Set A Goal For Each Term
Setting a goal at the beginning of each term, when a nominated person takes your containers in to an Adelaide recycling depot is useful to see how you’re tracking.
Have A Say How The Money Should Be Spent
Passing on ideas to the school’s Principal of what you think the money could be used for will be appreciated and help with motivating everyone to reach the target!
Remember the saying “Reach for the sky, if you fail, you land among the stars”.
Even if you don’t reach your target, you’ll have more than you started with and there is always next term or next year.
Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Do you know why?
They’re the only ones who ever have!
