The Thursday Island Containers for Change depot has reached an incredible milestone, with more than one million eligible containers returned through the scheme.

The local community celebrated the milestone at the depot's official cultural blessing, which recognised the positive environmental and community impact Containers for Change is delivering across the Torres Strait.

Before the depot opened in early 2025, eligible drink containers on Thursday Island were sent to landfill. Just over a year later, locals have recycled more than one million containers, putting more than $100,000 in 10-cent refunds back into the community.

A Torres Strait Islander dancer from Island Stars, an organisation that specialises in Torres Strait Islander cultural experiences and art, at the Thursday Island depot celebration.

Queensland's northernmost container refund depot

Thursday Island is home to Queensland's northernmost Containers for Change depot, operated by Torres Shire Council.

Located at the island's waste transfer station, the depot gives locals a convenient way to return eligible containers and earn a refund. Customers can also use a bag drop service in the town centre.

The Torres Strait network extends even further north, with a Containers for Change bag drop operating on nearby Badu Island.

Together, these refund points are making recycling more accessible in some of Queensland's most remote communities.

A cool solution to a unique challenge

Running a container refund point in the Torres Strait comes with some unique challenges.

To meet strict biosecurity requirements, every eligible container collected on Thursday Island is counted and then frozen for 48 hours at -18°C before being transported to mainland Queensland for processing and recycling.

Additional controls apply to containers transferred from neighbouring islands, ensuring all materials can move safely through the recycling process while meeting biosecurity requirements.

A celebration for the community

The official cultural blessing of the depot in August 2026 was a chance to celebrate the community's recycling efforts and the positive impact Containers for Change is having across the region.

The event began with a blessing from Reverend Father Michael Szymanski, Parish Priest for the Thursday Island Parish, followed by a performance from local traditional dance group Island Stars.

Torres Shire Council Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM acknowledged the dedication of the team members and community members who have embraced recycling through Containers for Change.

"Let's continue to work together and be the change for our community where recycling is the cleaner way for us to save our environment," Mayor Seriat said.

Award-winning recycling champions

The Torres Shire Council team was also recognised at the 2026 Change Maker Awards, taking home the Small Operator of the Year Award.

The award celebrates small operators across the Containers for Change network who achieve outstanding results, often with limited resources and small teams.

Judges recognised Torres Shire Council for delivering significant community benefits while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and operational excellence.

Team member Ty at the Thursday Island Containers for Change depot.

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