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Brisbane Airport is committed to supporting community efforts through its Community Giving Fund program, and one of this year’s...
When you pass through Brisbane Airport, your small actions like recycling, can have a big impact. Thanks to the Containers for Change program, every bottle or can you recycle doesn’t just reduce landfill—it also helps fund local charities.
Brisbane Airport’s has set ambitious sustainability goals, including achieving zero operational waste to landfill by 2030. By being an eco-conscious traveller and putting your rubbish in the right bin you can help us achieve zero waste while supporting community initiatives at the same time.
The Containers for Change program, run by Container Exchange (COEX) a not-for-profit organisation, offers a 10-cent refund for each eligible beverage container, which can then be donated to a nominated charity.
Since its launch, the program has gained immense support throughout Queensland, helping divert millions of containers from landfill. It’s an easy and effective way for everyone—from individuals to large organisations—to contribute to environmental sustainability.
With the reverse vending machines conveniently located throughout Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal and International Terminal, travellers can quickly participate in this initiative while going about their journey. Designed in collaboration with COEX, the bins have bottle-sized PVC straws to reduce contamination and are highly visible and interactive to attract attention.
Jessica King, Head of Sustainability at Brisbane Airport shares the importance of passenger participations in the Containers for Change scheme “We really want to thank our thousands of travellers who pass through Brisbane Airport every single day for being the real heroes and taking the time and effort to recycle.”
In the 2024 financial year, Brisbane Airport saw a 116% increase in container volume year-on-year, collecting 599,689 containers compared to 277,316 in the previous year. That’s over half a million containers that were diverted from landfill, with a combined weight of 43.1 tonnes of material recycled.
While the environmental benefits are clear, what’s more, Brisbane Airport raised $59,968 in donations from the recycling program in the last year. A portion of the proceeds supported the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C), a local organisation dedicated to preserving and restoring the natural environment. Another portion was donated to The Pyjama Foundation, supporting children in foster care with educational and life opportunities.
B4C’s efforts include large-scale revegetation and rehabilitation programs, working to restore local ecosystems and support biodiversity. They operate a community nursery and depot where volunteers, including those from community service groups and disability support organisations, participate in hands-on environmental activities. B4C also runs educational outreach programs, offering eco-workshops and sustainability projects in schools to foster environmental awareness. Additionally, their sustainability centre features a native plant nursery, permaculture displays, and exhibits on sustainable living.
Brisbane Airport team members had the privilege of donning their gardening gloves and helping B4C with one of their revegetation projects in Murarrie. Native trees and grasses were planted to restore a once-degraded area.
Excitingly, Brisbane Airport has also been recognised for its ongoing efforts. The airport has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Partner of the Year award at the 2024 Change Maker Awards, the first time this category has been introduced by Containers for Change. This nomination acknowledges the airport and the community’s dedication to the program since joining in January 2022.
So far, Brisbane Airport has collected over one million containers and donated over $100,000 to local charities and community groups through the refunds. If placed side-by-side, the containers would stretch 120 kilometres—or roughly the distance from Brisbane to Toowoomba.
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