A South Sydney recycling program has turned more than half a million containers into over $50,000 for local medical research.
The Recycle 4 Research initiative, run by the St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation (SSMRF), has also diverted more than 500,000 containers from landfill.
The program uses the 10c Return & Earn scheme, with refunds from bottles and cans funding research at St George and Sutherland hospitals. Recycle 4 Research participants collect and store eligible bottles and cans on-site, which are then collected for processing through the Return & Earn scheme.
What began with a small group of hospitals and hospitality venues has grown into a network of businesses, organisations and local residents, including St George Leagues Club, Inaburra School, Netstrata, Sutherland Mazda and other local organisations.
For participants, the program is easy to run and has no ongoing cost.
“The program is simple to run, with SSMRF taking care of the bins, collections and pick-ups,” said Craig Epton, CEO of St George Leagues Club. “It’s a fantastic way for us to give back to our community while making a real impact on the environment.”
In under two years, the initiative has raised more than $50,000 for research at St George and Sutherland hospitals, while keeping over half a million containers out of landfill.
SSMRF CEO Pam Brown said the program shows what can be achieved through community collaboration.
“Every container collected helps fund vital local research that benefits patients and families in our region,” she said.
The funding supports research across cancer, heart disease, neurology and more, with a focus on improving diagnosis, treatment and patient care.
The program continues to grow, with more businesses, clubs, organisations and residents getting involved.
For more information or to join the program, contact Carol Fung, R4R program co-ordinator, at carol@ssmrf.com.au
