Community recycling efforts are helping to supporting local children’s charity
Bellarine local Mark Gingell is proving just how much change recycling bottles and cans can make. Mr Gingell is turning 10c refunds from Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme into hope for disadvantaged children across Australia.
Since November 2023, Mr Gingell has been working with Searoad Ferries to collect eligible drink containers from ferry patrons, then using the refunds collected from containers returned at the CDS Vic Queenscliff refund point to raise funds for children’s charity Cottage by the Sea.
“It’s really raising the awareness of recycling, it’s raising the profile of Cottage by the Sea and it’s raising some money for Cottage by the Sea”.
He’s hoping it will be possible to raise $10,000 for Cottage within 12 months.
Cottage by the Sea CEO Adam Wake reports that roughly 216,000 children in Victoria alone are living in abject poverty. “That’s an awful statistic and it is growing,” he said.
Cottage by the Sea is located in Queenscliff, Victoria, and has been an Australia’s children charity since 1890. Cottage receives no government funding, and shared that it costs about $200 to support a child over a 24-hour period to access its programs that deliver life changing programs.
“It’s not cheap to change these children’s lives in the way that we do. I believe, hand on heart, we are offering the best program anywhere in the country for this contingent of kids.” said Mr Wake.
Mr Wake has said partnerships like the one formed with Mr Gingell and Searoad Ferries are “worth their weight in gold”.
“We do not have the resources to be able to manage these kinds of relationships and pay for them… so having Mark managing this relationship with a fantastic organisation like Searoad, I cannot speak more highly of it.”
Making your change on the Bellarine
As the CDS Vic West Zone network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway are thrilled to be supporting meaningful relationships that support local causes such as the one between Mr Gingell, Searoad Ferries and Cottage by the Sea.
The Queenscliff reverse vending machine is located in partnership with the Queenscliff Bowls, Tennis, Croquet Club at 118 Hesse Street, Queenscliff, and operates from 12pm – 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am – 7pm weekends.
TOMRA Cleanaway operate 8 reverse vending machines across the Bellarine region, giving locals convenient and accessible access to Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
Wanting to earn your 10c refund for every eligible drink container you return along the Bellarine? Find your nearest site here.
This article originally appeared in the Bellarine Times.
