{"id":247343,"date":"2019-11-06T18:42:52","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T08:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=247343"},"modified":"2020-07-15T18:00:42","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T08:00:42","slug":"cherbourg-wins-recycling-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/11\/06\/cherbourg-wins-recycling-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherbourg Wins Recycling Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Materials Recovery Facility manager Andrew Beckett and Cherbourg Council economic development officer Sean Nicholson with some of the proud team of workers at the Cherbourg Containers For Change depot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 6, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cherbourg Council picked up a surprise award last week when representatives were called down to Brisbane for a ceremony to mark the first birthday of Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Council is operating two Container Refund Points (in Cherbourg and Kingaroy) as well as a regional processing centre.<\/p>\n

Acting Cherbourg CEO Chatur Zala and economic development officer Sean Nicholson attended the Containers for Change birthday event but had no idea that Cherbourg was in the running\u00a0for an award.<\/p>\n

Materials Recovery Facility manager Andrew Beckett couldn’t make it – he was tied up doing the sound for the Murgon Music Muster – so he was stunned when the Council duo returned with the Chairman’s Trophy (made out of recycled glass) and the award certificate.<\/p>\n

They were presented by\u00a0Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch, who said\u00a0the Containers for Change scheme had created about 700 jobs around Queensland over the past year.<\/p>\n

“We are very honoured and proud,” Mr Beckett told southburnett.com.au<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“The Chairman’s Award is a statewide award.”<\/p>\n

The inaugural\u00a0Change Maker Awards coincided with the refund of the billionth container surrendered to to the Queensland scheme.<\/p>\n

Container Exchange\u00a0CEO\u00a0Ken Noye said the achievements of the seven award winners recognised on the night was significant, considering many of the businesses were so new.<\/p>\n

This is definitely the case with the Cherbourg centre.<\/p>\n

“One year ago there was just one paid employee, now there are 26,” Mr Nicholson said.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Council is now handling between 120 and 200 tonnes of recyclables a month.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the Kingaroy Containers For Change depot … Danyon Mickelo, Marty Carlo, Rhys Cobbo, Karen Briggs and Chrissy Beresford with the award trophy and certificate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Materials Recovery Facility manager Andrew Beckett and Cherbourg Council economic development officer Sean Nicholson with the awards presented to Council last week<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Minister’s Visit<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

State Agriculture Minister Dr Anthony Lynham dropped into the award-winning recycling centre during his visit to the town on Wednesday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Lynham makes quarterly visits to Cherbourg as part of his State Government role as “Ministerial Champion” for the town.<\/p>\n

He met with Cherbourg councillors, Elders and school students in the morning before visiting the Materials Recovery Facility and Containers For Change refund point on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

MRF manager\u00a0Andrew Beckett showed the Minister around the two areas.<\/p>\n

Dr Lynham chatted with employees and even had a go on the sorting line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dr Anthony Lynham with Trevor Blair, Charlotte Denson and Raymond Skinner at the Containers For Change depot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Percy Murray and Aileen Blair show Dr Lynham how it’s done\u00a0on the sorting line in the Materials Recovery Facility<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Change Makers<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n