Queensland’s first solar-powered reverse vending machine (RVM) has opened at Mt Pleasant Shopping Centre in Mackay, providing a new option for container refunds under the state’s Containers for Change scheme.
The machine, operated by family-owned recycler Anything Environmental and manufactured by Queensland start-up Ecoboxtec, is powered entirely by solar panels. Customers can redeem their refund by taking a ticket from the RVM to an ATM in the shopping centre, or choose to donate directly to CQ Rescue, a local helicopter emergency service.
Jo Higgins, owner of Anything Environmental, said, “Anything Environmental is proud to be the first in our region and in our state to introduce a fully solar-powered RVM with an integrated cash payout system.”
Lauren Christian, executive general manager of strategy, design and technology at COEX, the not-for-profit that runs Containers for Change, said the solar-powered RVM model could support expansion of refund points. “The solar-powered RVM is a practical solution with a social impact that will enable more recycling infrastructure to be placed in areas where access to electricity is limited or costly,” she said.
Julien Craeye, founder and director of Ecoboxtec, said, “By integrating solar power, we’re not only reducing environmental footprint but also unlocking new possibilities for where and how recycling services can be delivered.”
There are now more than 400 container refund points operating across Queensland, including RVMs, depots, bag drops and mobile pop-ups.
