Gold Coast Car Rentals Airport Family Holiday Vehicle Hire Recycle Charity Deals

Announcement posted by Gold Coast Family Car Rentals 06 Jun 2019

Gold Coast Family Car Rentals is challenging other Queensland rental companies to join their Recycling for Charity program

With its astounding natural beauty, fabulous climate and vibrant communities, the Gold Coast region attracts millions of visitors a year.

And what’s not to love? Almost 60km of pristine beaches, world-heritage listed rainforests, navigable waterways and, best of all, almost 300 days of sunshine per year, make it a popular tourist destination and out-of-towners spend an average 3.2 days exploring the region’s many delights.

Unfortunately, all this fun in the sun comes at a price, as Queensland uses close to 3 billion beverage containers a year. Although easy to recycle, it is the state’s second most littered item. This makes the Gold Coast a prime candidate for Containers for Change, as the refund initiative is aimed specifically at litter associated with drinks enjoyed outdoors and away from home (e.g. soft drinks, bottled water, beer, fruit juice and flavoured milk).

Introduced in Queensland in November 2018, it gives people an incentive to collect and return containers for recycling, in exchange for a 10 cent refund payment. It reduces the number of littered drink containers and increases the state’s recycling rate. The scheme also provides benefits to social enterprises, communities, and regional and remote areas by creating a new job, recycling and fundraising opportunities.

Although more than 230 container refund points are in operation across the state, Darryl Essington-Wilson, owner of Gold Coast Family Car Rentals quickly realised this his company’s holiday customers aren't able to prioritise cashing in their holiday containers, losing a small but steady income stream that could be useful elsewhere.

“We saw this an ideal opportunity to suggest to our customers that they bring their cans and bottles back to our depot when they return their rental vehicles prior to going home.” Each rental vehicle is supplied with a couple of reusable shopping bags, and customers are encouraged to bring “back their empties”.

Darryl registered a charity assistance program Recycling for Charity with Queensland’s Containers for Change scheme, enabling his company to return eligible containers (aluminium, glass, plastic and cardboard) and have the proceeds deposited on behalf of six charities they chose to support.

The company has built a small recycling section at its depot where containers can be separated and stored until delivered to an exchange centre. It only raises a modest amount of cash, but it’s not about the money. Visitors to the beautiful Gold Coast seem to love the idea. It allows them to leave a tiny token of their appreciation, rather than seeing money going back into government coffers.

Any Queenslander can nominate Recycling for Charity to receive their 10c refund payments, but Darryl is challenging fellow Gold Coast car rental companies, in particular, to join his community fund program. “It isn’t often that car rental companies have an opportunity to make a positive contribution to both community service groups and to the environment,” he says. “We’re glad we’ve made this initiative – and want others to come on board.”

Recycling for Charity supports:

Variety - the Children’s Charity
headspace - National Youth Mental Health Foundation
Beyond Blue - Mental health support and advice for everyone in Australia
Dementia Australia
RSL DefenceCare - help for Australian veterans and their families in need
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital – Treating and releasing sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife.

All expenses in relation to Recycling for Charity are borne by Gold Coast Family Car Rentals and the program will fully and equally benefit its chosen charities. To contribute towards the initiative, use the registration ID: C10075766.

For those planning to travel in and around Gold Coast city, and particularly between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta, and including the Gold Coast Airport, making sure to book online with Car Hire Gold Coast or Gold Coast Airport Car Rental, or call + 61 7 5508 3333. Pick up and drop off at the Gold Coast Airport can be arranged.

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