A local business is making it easier than ever for people to recycle and is rewarding diligent recyclers with cash payments for certain types of containers.

Urban Depot recently opened in Windsor Road Nambour and owner Jason Irwin says it is proving to be very popular with locals.

“I think the fact that we make the entire process so easy for people is a big part of the reason why it has taken off relatively quickly,” Mr Irwin said. “We have set up a drive in service that is both friendly and contact free so people can feel safe to bring their recyclables in. They don’t even have to get out of the car. Our staff are super friendly; we actually refer to ourselves as ‘concierges’ because we want to make our customers feel welcome and valued. Our customers drive in with their recyclables and drive out with cash in their hand.”

Originally from the hospitality industry, Mr Irwin said he was first compelled to look seriously at recycling due to the sheer volume of waste that is inevitable in that industry. “I had been working in restaurants in Sydney, and the waste was staggering. And then a couple of years ago a friend of mine started a yard like this one,” he said. “I went to work for him as a General Manager for a time and we went on to build three yards together in regional areas like Maryborough and Hervey Bay  It was easy to become passionate about this concept because there is so much good that can be achieved through it, on many levels.”

Part of the Containers for Change scheme, Mr Irwin built his own yard in Jimboomba and immediately saw the potential to not only educate young people about recycling, but also create job opportunities within his own business and options for schools, businesses and organisations to fund raise, and for kids to earn pocket money through recycling.

“In the beginning, I approached the Jimboomba State School and we handed out 800 complimentary collection bags; one for every student,” he said. “We taught them what we were able to recycle and encouraged them to bring in full bags. The response was phenomenal and through this initiative the school raised $8,000 in 12 months.”

The other positive aspect of this business is that Mr Irwin has been able to employ 6 local young people, four of whom were long term unemployed.

“This has been every bit as rewarding as encouraging more people to recycle,” said Mr Irwin. “For some of my staff, both here and at the Jimboomba facility, it has been life changing. 

“Through this opportunity, some of my staff have been able to go on and secure personal loans to buy their own homes, pursue university education and upgrade their training to obtain forklift licences. This has created more opportunities for them in the job market, not that any of them leave. I think they all enjoy their work here too much!”

So what can be recycled at the Urban Depot? “Basically soft drink or alcoholic beverage drink cans and small plastic bottles or cardboard cartons like flavoured milk or juices,” Mr Irwin said. “Probably the best way to describe it is anything that could be potentially thrown out of a car window.”

Urban Depot is a large load specialist, and can work with schools, clubs, restaurants, Pubs and other organisations to recycle and raise funds as well as anyone who wants to recycle and take advantage of the opportunity to be paid for doing so.

“Our crew has a lot of fun here and I think customers enjoy being made to feel special and welcomed, so they are more inclined to keep recycling,” Mr Irwin said. “It’s just a win-win all round.”

• Urban Depot 7/1 Windsor Road Burnside, phone 0492 846 936.