Manufacturing collections

Collections for manufacturing workplaces

We collect eligible staff drink containers, not production or industrial waste. We'll work with your operations team to keep the service in suitable staff areas and plan a safe collection point.

Talk to us about your manufacturing site See warehouse collections

What your manufacturing site receives

Commercial collection for staff drink containers

This service is for eligible staff beverage containers, not industrial, process or production waste.

Full 10c refund

Manufacturers with an ABN or ACN, and registered charities, receive the full 10c for every eligible container.

Free bins and pickup

We recommend bins for approved staff areas and storage. Agreed ongoing bins and pickup are free for approved partners.

Message at around 90%

Your site contact messages us when bins are around 90% full. Regular servicing is only considered once real collection data exists.

Respect site controls

Share shift patterns, production boundaries, inductions and the safe loading or storage point for collection.

Clear scope

Keep the service in suitable staff areas

Manufacturing sites handle many materials that do not belong in a container refund service. Naming the approved areas makes participation straightforward and protects the boundary around production.

Operations

Approves the source areas, storage location and collection access.

Safety or environment

Confirms separation from chemicals, process waste and controlled areas.

Shift leaders

Keep the staff routine consistent across operating hours.

Facilities or administration

Manages the contact, refund purpose and agreed collection details.

Suitable sources

Start with lunchrooms and staff amenities

The safest starting point is usually a non-production area where ordinary staff drinks are consumed and easy to recognise.

Lunchrooms and canteens

Collect cans, bottles and cartons from normal staff meal breaks.

Administration

Office kitchens can use the same final storage point where the site approves it.

Approved hydration areas

Include only areas where the site can keep the stream away from process material.

Staff events

Use a temporary point when the site can manage pack-down and internal transfer.

How it can work

A separate path for staff drink containers

Your site decides which areas are suitable and moves the approved stream to a collection point outside production controls.

Name the approved areas

Limit the starting scope to ordinary staff beverage locations.
Use clear signs

Explain that the collection is not for process, product or industrial material.
Check and consolidate

Site staff move suitable containers to secure approved storage.
Collect from the safe point

We attend only the location and access route confirmed with the site.

Real-world result

A real result from one manufacturing business

In under eight months of recorded collections, one cabinet-making business returned 1,256 eligible drink containers, representing $125.60 in recorded refunds.

1,256 eligible drink containers

$125.60 recorded refunds

Recorded period: 1 January 2026 to 30 August 2026

Actual recorded returns for one participating account during the stated period. Collection dates may include containers accumulated earlier. Results vary with eligible container volume, site activity and collection arrangements; these examples are not sector averages or forecasts.

A collection team member emptying eligible drink containers from a commercial bin.

Strong separation

This is not an industrial waste service

Only ordinary eligible drink containers from approved areas belong in the collection.

Examples of eligible drink containers, including bottles, cans, cartons and poppers.

Put these in

Empty, eligible staff drink cans, plastic and glass bottles, and cartons with the Queensland 10c refund mark.

Check the detailed eligibility guide

Examples of ineligible containers, including plain milk bottles, cask wine, coffee cups and large juice containers.

Keep these out

Chemicals, process waste, product packaging, oils, hazardous or regulated waste, damaged stock, PPE and general rubbish.

Restrict source areas

Do not place points in production areas unless the site has specifically approved them.

Do not mix materials

Keep process, chemical and product-recovery streams completely separate.

Let the site decide

If an item is uncertain, follow the manufacturer's own safety and waste procedures.

Present a clean stream

We collect the approved beverage stream, not mixed material for sorting.

Your site setup

Fit collection into existing site controls

We'll discuss staff numbers, shifts, approved source areas, storage and visitor access. Bins, timing, refunds and reporting are then confirmed for the collection arrangement.

Approved scope

Record where staff drink containers may be collected and which areas are excluded.

Safe access

Use the site's normal induction, gate and visitor requirements.

Refunds

Agree how the recorded value will be directed for the business or an approved cause.

Review

Update the routine if shifts, layouts or site controls change.

What do approved commercial collection partners receive?

Businesses with an ABN or ACN, and registered charities, receive the full 10c for every eligible container. Approved partners also receive their agreed ongoing bins and commercial pickup free of charge. Other organisations can contact the team to discuss their situation.

How do we start, and who chooses the bins?

Use the commercial collection enquiry and share your organisation, site, volume, storage, access and refund preference. Sandgate Bottle & Can Exchange recommends the bin setup. The account, Member Number, payment or donation pathway is confirmed during onboarding, and bin numbers or sizes can be reviewed as real volumes become known.

When will our containers be collected?

When you first start, message the team when the bins are around 90% full and we will organise the collection. Once enough collection history shows the site's normal volume and fill rate, regular servicing can be discussed if it would suit the site.

What if we already have a stockpile of eligible containers?

Mention it in the enquiry. The team will review the amount, storage and access, then explain the most practical way to handle the existing stockpile and the ongoing setup.

What containers can you collect?

We collect eligible drink containers from approved staff beverage areas. The Queensland eligibility guide applies to each can, bottle or carton.

Do you collect industrial or production waste?

No. Chemicals, process waste, product packaging, hazardous material and other industrial waste are outside this service.

Can collection points go on the production floor?

Only if the site specifically approves an area and can maintain clear separation. Lunchrooms and staff amenities are usually the simpler starting point.

Who checks the containers?

The manufacturing site should nominate staff to keep other materials out and move suitable containers to the agreed collection point.

Where do you collect from?

We collect from the safe storage or loading point approved with the site, not from uncontrolled production areas.

Does the result show where each container came from?

No. It is the recorded result for one cabinet-making business account and does not identify exact internal source areas.

Next step

Talk to us about your staff container stream

Show us the approved staff areas and the safe route to storage. We'll discuss a collection setup that stays clearly separate from production waste.

Talk to us about your manufacturing site Call or SMS