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The Jacksons strive to keep bushland pristine

Headshot of Elise Van Aken
Elise Van AkenThe Kimberley Echo
Kellie Jackson with her sons Coby, 10, cleaning up bushland in Kununurra.
Camera IconKellie Jackson with her sons Coby, 10, cleaning up bushland in Kununurra. Credit: Elise Van Aken/The Kimberley Echo

A week after the State Government’s Containers for Change scheme launched, Kimberley residents are already putting their best foot forward in the name of recycling.

More than 78,000 containers had been collected between the region’s 19 local refund points within a week of the program being launched across the State earlier this month.

The Jackson family from Kununurra were responsible for a large portion of those returns, with mother-of-three Kellie Jackson deciding she would take advantage of the new scheme to teach her children about hard work while helping the environment.

Mia, 14, Tyler, 12, and Coby Jackson, 10, have taken to local streets and bushland to fill up to 20 bags at a time of single serve milk cartons, cans, glass and plastic bottles, which they trade in at the Ivanhoe Road deposit point for 10 cents each.

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Tyler said he made over $60 from what he returned last week.

“It’s fun and feels good, it’s easy money. Yesterday I got $62 from just half a week,” he said.

“It’s good for the environment, there’s going to be no more toxic waste hopefully.

“I encourage others to do it too, it’s quick money and the town will be tidier.”

EKJP is delivering the scheme across the East Kimberley Region at Lot 26 Ivanhoe Road, Kununurra, in the Wunan Maintenance Services and ThinkWater yard, Monday to Friday 7.30am to 2.30pm and Saturday 8am to 12pm.

Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a refund, while containers not commonly found as litter including all plain milk, flavoured milks 1L and above, pure juice drinks, wine and spirit bottles, and cordials are not eligible.

Kununurra Neighbourhood House, at the old 34 Leichhardt St premises, and Kimberley Vet will continue to maintain their collection points, with all refunds to be donated to the not-for-profit organisations.

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