Councillor Column Councillor Pat Lynch 23 December

Ever been out at the beach, finished your drink, and thought, “I’ll just toss this in the bin”?

We’ve all done it. But here’s the thing, those bottles and cans aren’t just rubbish.

They’re worth money, and more importantly, they’re worth saving from landfill.

That’s why I’m excited about Hinchinbrook’s Pay-It-Forward Stations. They’re simple, clever, and they make recycling easy for everyone.

Instead of throwing your containers away, you pop them into a PiF Station. Anyone can donate, anyone can collect — no strings attached.

Maybe you’re someone who loves recycling but doesn’t want the hassle of chasing refunds. Or maybe you know someone who could use a few extra dollars. Either way, this system works because it’s about community helping community.

Here’s the reality: every year, about 870,000 drink containers in Hinchinbrook end up as litter or in landfill.

That’s roughly $87,000 in refunds gone — along with valuable materials and precious landfill space. PiF Stations help fix that.

We’ve got two types. One has small holders on fences or posts for quick drop-offs and the other has bigger cages near public bins for when you’ve got more to give

It’s easy, and it makes a difference. Cleaner parks, less litter, and a little extra pocket money for someone who needs it.

Western Australia has already shown how successful this idea can be, and now Hinchinbrook is proud to be part of the change and what we’ve done is being trialled across multiple local government areas in Queensland.

So before you toss it, think about it. The smallest action you can do will make a big difference in our community when it comes to waste management.

In closing, I would like to say Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our ratepayers and visitors to our region.