The Auswaste truck loaded with containers after the Laura Rodeo and Races.
ALMOST 40,000 containers are headed for recycling and more than $3800 in cash has gone back into the pockets of happy can collectors after the Laura Rodeo and Races.
The thousands of attendees were handed Containers for Change collection bags as they arrived at the popular event, Auswaste on-site to exchange the containers for cash.
“It’s so rewarding for us doing these events, seeing the same kids every year and watching their faces as they get their cash back and head off to buy slushies or fairy floss,” Kenny Reid said.
“Probably the standout for the weekend was one family with kids aged 6, 9 and 11, and the kids collected a full buggy-load of containers and got just shy of $500 between them.
“That’s pretty good money for a couple of morning’s work.”
Mr Reid said as well as keeping containers out of landfill and helping keep the event area clean, collecting containers gave kids something to do, as well as an opportunity to see the benefits of teamwork.
“You’d see the ones collecting on their own lining up and often they’d see the kids in a group get more money and you could see them thinking about the benefits of being in a team,” he said.
“It also teaches them a little bit about money. My wife Steffi always makes a point of telling them the total amount and then asking them how much each kid will get and they work it out and work out who is going to get how many coins and notes.”
Kenny and Stef Reid at the Laura Races.
