NEWS
On the Couch: A conversation with Trevor Evans from Container Exchange
As Interim CEO of Container Exchange (COEX), Trevor Evans is leading one of Queensland’s most impactful circular economy initiatives, Containers for Change.
Container Exchange (COEX) is the not-for-profit organisation appointed by the Queensland Government to manage and grow Queensland’s container refund scheme. This scheme is transforming how Queenslanders think about waste, recycling and community impact. With a vision that no container goes to waste, COEX is working to reduce litter, increase recycling rates and reinvest value back into local communities.
Since launching in 2018, more than 11 billion containers have been returned through the scheme, putting over $1.1 billion back into the pockets of Queenslanders and supporting charities, community groups, schools and sporting organisations. By connecting environmental action with real community benefit, Containers for Change is helping drive a more circular, sustainable future for Brisbane and across the state.
Trevor Evans, Interim CEO Container Exchnage
A conversation with Trevor Evans: Driving Queensland’s circular economy through Containers for Change
Containers for Change has helped Queenslanders return billions of containers and reduce litter in local streets, parks and waterways. How do you describe the impact the scheme is having on our environment and communities?
Containers for Change is one of Australia’s most successful recycling schemes. More than 3,000 containers are recycled through our refund points every single minute – that’s $300 every minute flowing straight back into Queensland communities.
Before the launch of Containers for Change in 2018, only 18% of beverage containers were recycled in Queensland. Today more than two in three eligible containers are recovered through the scheme. And we’re still growing; in December, Queenslanders returned more than 50 million containers in a single week – the biggest weekly haul in Containers for Change history.
The program brings together collection points, refund points, depots, charities and community groups. Can you share an example where container refunds have supported local jobs, social enterprises or grassroots projects in Brisbane?
We partner with Brisbane-based social enterprise Help to deliver our free outdoor recycling solution for councils, Container Exchange Points.
Container Exchange Points are attachments to public bins or poles that allow people to leave their eligible beverage containers in a basket or rack to be collected by another in exchange for the 10-cent refund.
Help manufacture the metal baskets, with Supported Employees playing a key role in the process including welding, assembly and quality assurance. COEX provides Container Exchange Points to councils for free as part of our commitment to reducing litter and landfill.
Container recycling is now part of many households’ weekly routines. What have you learnt about making recycling simple and rewarding and how is that shaping the next phase of Containers for Change?
To make recycling even easier for Queenslanders, we are expanding the Containers for Change network to bring recycling closer to where people live, work, shop and play. This will deliver a diverse range of shopfronts and high-tech reverse vending machines to inner-city and suburban communities.
Last year we celebrated the launch of the new shopfront at Inala Civic Centre, which is operated by Panda Recycling. This shopfront has brought everyday container recycling to the heart of the suburb and provides a service in both English and Vietnamese to ensure it is accessible to Inala’s diverse community.
Reducing waste is an important part of Brisbane’s broader sustainability goals. How is Containers for Change working with councils, community organisations and industry to keep more materials in circulation and out of landfill?
Containers for Change is one of the clearest examples of how councils, community organisations and industry can meaningfully address sustainability. The scheme supports the circular economy by providing a clean and reliable source of material for recycling, and the 10-cent refund can be reinvested into community initiatives for widespread impact.
COEX also works alongside local governments, business and industry to find the solution that suits them. We offer free, fit‑for‑purpose infrastructure such as Container Exchange Points in parks and public spaces, and convenient collection options through our Partner Program.
As Queensland looks towards 2032, what opportunities do you see to expand resource recovery, improve infrastructure and deepen community participation in schemes like Containers for Change?
Queenslanders recycle more than 2 billion containers a year through Containers for Change, but about 1 billion containers are still ending up as litter or landfill. That’s $100 million in unclaimed refunds that could go towards supporting sustainability initiatives, community groups and charities. This is an opportunity-rich space, and we want to partner with government, business and industry to maximise the environmental, social and economic benefit of container recycling.
No container goes to waste is our vision and by 2032 we hope that vision will be a reality. But we can only get there if we work together.
COEX and Containers for Change shows what is possible when environmental action, community impact and smart design come together. From reducing litter across Queensland to putting millions back into local communities, the scheme is helping reshape everyday behaviours and normalise recycling as part of daily life.
With ambitious goals ahead and opportunities to recover even more valuable resources, the future of container recycling relies on continued collaboration between government, industry and the community. By working together, we can move closer to a truly circular economy where no container goes to waste and every return creates a positive impact.
If you would like to be a part of our On the Couch series, please reach out to Phoebe Mann at [email protected].