OLYMPIAN TALIQUA CLANCY GETS ON BOARD TO RIDE WAVE OF CHANGE
Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and proud First Nations beach volleyballer, Taliqua Clancy, is the official ambassador for the Wave of Change program, a joint environmental education program between Containers for Change and Plastic Oceans Australasia.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon this week welcomed Ms Clancy’s involvement in the program. “We know that Taliqua is a winner on the court and is a passionate supporter of clean oceans and beaches – her strong connection to young Queenslanders makes her perfect for this role as we go for gold in cleaning up and protecting our beaches and environment,” she said.
“In partnership with Plastic Oceans Australasia – Containers for Change will deliver primary school curriculum modules on plastic reduction and pollution to 300 primary schools in 2022.
“The program will also support schools’ container recycling fundraising efforts by providing collection infrastructure and resources that maximise containers collected and refunds received.”
Taliqua Clancy said the program, which will be rolled out to 300 schools across Queensland in 2022, would drive change by influencing students’ daily habits and inspiring others to join them.
“I am really proud to have been asked to be an ambassador for this important environmental education program,” she said.
“Playing volleyball on beaches around the world has made me passionate about keeping them, and our oceans, free of plastic and waste so that we can all enjoy them.
“Sharing storylines about our environment is so important for the future sustainability of our beaches, beautiful coastline, and waterways in Queensland and I am excited to share my passion for the environment with tomorrow’s generation of Queenslanders.”
The Wave of Change program encourages schools to be focussed on building awareness of plastic pollution and participating in Containers for Change and will provide schools with bags and bins for containers, connection to operators who can collect recyclables and a federally approved curriculum ready to go.
Executive Director of Plastic Oceans Australasia Ricki Hersburgh said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the Containers for Change scheme and know that initiatives such as these demonstrate the importance of long-term systemic change.
“Our comprehensive educational school resources will help young people understand the dire impacts of plastic in the natural environment for wildlife and humans alike, which is vital in reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans for future generations.”
Five billion containers have now been recycled since Containers for Change was introduced in Queensland with nearly 800 full time equivalent jobs created. For further information please go to Queensland Containers for Change – Wave of Change program site https://cfcqld.com/wave-of-change
For more information, please contact:
Patricia Lee – Media Relations patricia@plasticoceans,org.au
Or Ricki Hersburgh on 0401 163 648 ricki@plasticoceans.org.au
Adam Nicholson, Public Relations Advisor Container Exchange on 0477 374 357 adam.nicholson@containerexchange.com.au
The Wave of Change Program POA and Containers for Change have partnered to produce a comprehensive range of curriculum aligned resources for Queensland Schools.
This program will equip school students with the skills and knowledge to reduce their personal single use plastic consumption as well as that of their entire school. Alongside Containers for Change, students will learn how to correctly recycle the plastic waste they do use, all whilst earning money for their school.
Register your school’s interest at waveofchange@containerexchange.com.au
ABOUT CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE
Containers for Change is Queensland’s Container refund scheme introduced in 2018 to help encourage Queenslanders to recycle their used drink containers while also creating job opportunities and supporting communities.
The Containers for Change scheme is all about reducing litter and increasing Queensland’s recycling rates. The scheme aims to incentivise recycling by offering a 10- cent refund for every eligible beverage container returned to the authorised container refund points (CRPs) across Queensland. Container Exchange (COEX) is a not-for-profit organisation created to establish and run the Containers for Change scheme in Queensland.
For more information on the Containers for Change scheme, please visit www.containersforchange.com.au/qld
How does the scheme work?
Queenslanders can return eligible drink containers via a container refund point. Container refund points have been established across Queensland to collect eligible empty containers in exchange for the payment of a 10c refund. For Queenslanders who prefer to donate their drink container to a community group, sports club or another organisation, container return points can direct the 10c refund payment to a registered group through their scheme ID. In addition, some groups will run their own container donation points at which the refund payment will be retained by them.
For more information, email: enquiries@containerexchange.com.au
ABOUT PLASTIC OCEANS AUSTRALASIA
POA launched at Parliament House in Canberra, August 2017. The launch included a screening of the nine-time award-winning documentary A Plastic Ocean. POA is a global affiliate with Ocean Generation (aka Plastic Oceans UK) and is based in Melbourne, Australia and works throughout Australasia (Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring islands). POA Mission To change the world’s attitude towards plastic within a generation. Our programs are core to this mission.
POA’s pillars of focus are scientific research; sustainable business and education.
Social media
Website: www.plasticoceans.org.au
Instagram: www.instagram.cm/plasticoceansaustralasia