Community & Business
29 October, 2021
Cooktown business recognised for commitment to sustainability
COOKTOWN locals Kenny and Steffi Reid have been recognised for their passion and commitment to recycling, being nominated for a Queensland wide award for sustainability.
The couple started their recycling company Auswaste in the Containers for Change scheme in Cooktown back in 2019 and have become a vital key in providing access to recycling across the cape.
The Containers for Change scheme exchanges a 10-cent refund for every eligible beverage container returned to a registered point across Queensland.
People in communities such as Aurukun, Bamaga, Lockhart River, Mapoon and Weipa just to name a few have had access to recycling through Auswaste.
“Sustainability of small business in the Cape is a challenge,” Kenny said.
“The Containers for Change scheme has given not only the opportunity to develop and deliver a service in remote areas and communities, but also inspired Auswaste to build other businesses around logistics and recycling.
“This has seen us grow from employing 12 staff when we started in the scheme in 2019 to employing 30-plus local people spread over five different businesses.
“This has allowed us to off er full-time employment in a seasonal environment.”
It is due to this passion and commitment that Auswaste has been listed in the Change Maker Award nominations in the sustainability for small to medium businesses category.
The awards were handed out last Friday in a small ceremony is Brisbane and unfortunately Auswaste was not awarded the sustainability award.
