Four million containers collected during State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium

May 29, 2025

Environment / Sport / Venues /

Stadiums Queensland has advised that more than four million containers were collected at its venues during the State of Origin through Containers for Change.

The recycling initiative sees dedicated container recycling bins located across eight Stadiums Queensland venues including Suncorp Stadium, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, CBUS Super Stadium, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, People First Stadium, Sleeman Sports Complex, QSAC and The Gabba.

Praising Stadiums Queensland and the community for working together to make the initiative a success, Queensland Sport Minster, Tim Mander advised “while Queensland couldn’t quite get the win last night, our Queenslanders in the stands certainly did their bit for their state.

“Four million containers refunded is no small feat, and these collection points are another way our Queensland venues are continually adopting initiatives to benefit the community.

“Not only is the scheme providing environmental benefits, but it also has a large social benefit funds generated from the scheme returned to deserving Queensland charities.”

Stadiums Queensland Chief Executive Todd Haris said the recycling initiative had diverted 229 tonnes of container waste from landfill, noting “the collection points have been well received across Stadiums Queensland’s venues and it’s great to see our patrons getting strongly behind this initiative.

“In 2023/24 we welcomed a record breaking 5.8 million people to our venues, and with tens of thousands of drinks consumed at each major event, that is a lot of containers that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.

“So far, the greenhouse benefits from this initiative at our venues is the equivalent of removing 289 cars from the roads.”

Natalie Roach, the Chief Executive of Container Exchange, the not-for-profit organisation that runs Containers for Change, said Stadiums Queensland was making it easier to Queenslanders to recycle.

Roach added “containers consumed out-of-home often end up as litter or landfill, but thanks to initiatives like this one driven by Stadiums Queensland millions of containers are being given a new life through recycling.

"With bins across the venues clearly marked to encourage container recycling, Stadiums Queensland are helping to ensure no container goes to waste."

Since Containers for Change launched in November 2018, Queenslanders have recycled more than 10 billion containers through the scheme.

This has put more than $1 billion in 10-cent refunds back into the Queensland community, including $17 million raised for charities and community groups.

COEX is the not-for-profit organisation that implements the Containers for Change scheme in Queensland on behalf of the Queensland Government.

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