Stead Park Geelong Hockey Association Container Deposit Scheme

A really big thankyou to all the community who have been supporting our new container deposit scheme at Stead Park. It’s beginning to take off.

At the beginning of the season we installed cage style lockable bins and a few plastic bins with signs on them. We keep these open and visible to reduce contamination from other waste.

 

(The first bin is at eye level. Second bin is an open cage to reduce contamination. The inside bin gets contaminated a lot, but doesn’t leak)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(These new bins are difficult to empty, confusing and get contaminated. I use a hand picker to get the bottles and cans out.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The program seems to be working. We are getting 10 cents for every can, plastic, bottle, glass bottle and tetra pack drink box such as a Nippy’s chocolate milk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each week we go around the park and consolidate all the containers into a large wheelie bin. When we have two full bins we take them over to ‘Recycle4Change’ in Bell Park.

These guys process the containers through big machines. It only takes about 10 minutes and we usually get about $55. That’s 550 containers every couple of weeks. It’s beginning to add up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This program does rely on volunteers. So far this season Nette Williams and myself have been doing most of the work. What we really need is a couple more volunteers until the end of the season.

If you have a ute and are willing to give up half an hour a month to take the wheelie bins to the recycle center it would be really appreciated. 

We would also appreciate a volunteer or two to walk around and consolidate the containers once every few weeks. It could be any night during the week or on a weekend. It’s best after a Shark’s home game.

If you are happy to volunteer, please contact me, Nick Ayerbe on 0421864610, and I’ll help you get set up.

Keep up the good work and thanks for your support.

Nick Ayerbe

P.S. It would be great if spectators could actually finish their beers. Makes it a lot less messy. You’d be surprised how many people only drink half a can.