Recycling helps make life more comfortable for cancer patients

Empty bottles and cans are helping patients feel comfortable at Hilltop Patient and Carer Accommodation Centre in Albury Wodonga.

Hilltop has partnered with Albury Return and Earn automated depot, operated by Billabong Recycling, to collect bottles and cans. The 10c refund for each eligible container goes to help fund replacing carpet and refurbishing bathrooms at the centre.

Patients and carers at Hilltop can bring their eligible containers from home, as well as donate any they use while staying at Hilltop.

“Guests have embraced this fundraising opportunity and are happy to bring bags of cans and bottles they have been collecting from home for our collection,” said Alice Glachan, Manager, Hilltop Patient and Carer Accommodation Centre.

The Hilltop Centre provides comfortable accommodation for patients and carers who need to travel to Albury for specialist medical treatments, including cancer treatments, which can take weeks.

“The Billabong team visit us each fortnight and collect our containers from us, depositing the proceeds into our fundraising bank account. Some weeks we can have two large bags, but other weeks we can have four, depending on who has been staying and how many guests have brought them from home,” said Alice.

Billabong also have big, blue collection drums at their depot so locals can donate their empties to Hilltop too.

“Local residents have been donating their bottles and cans directly to the Albury Return and Earn automated depot in Lavington,” Alice added.

So far, Hilltop have raised more than $1,000 through Return and Earn.

“The Return and Earn scheme has been fabulous from our perspective. While it raises ongoing donations for us to help assist our regional guests, it has the added bonuses of reducing litter, increasing recycling as well as generating employment for the very dedicated Billabong team who love their jobs! The guests also like knowing that they are helping us, and collecting cans and bottles is such an easy thing to do,” said Alice.