Queensland’s Fastest Container Counter Crowned on Global Recycling Day
What do counting containers and solving a Rubik’s Cube have in common? Speed, precision - and a whole lot of skill.
To celebrate Global Recycling Day, we put a statewide callout to find Queensland’s fastest manual container counter, shining a spotlight on the hardworking people at the heart of our scheme who keep containers moving and refunds flowing every day.
Taking the crown was 20-year-old Joel Hibbert from Nambour’s Urban Depot, whose lightning-fast hands secured him the title.
Joel counted 100 eligible containers in just 19.89 seconds, all while maintaining perfect accuracy!
Fast hands, sharp mind
Outside of work, Joel has a hobby that keeps his hands quick and his mind sharp - and it turns out to be surprisingly useful at the depot!
He’s a passionate speedcuber, competing in the rapid solving of puzzles like the Rubik’s Cube.
Joel said entering the competition was an exciting way to celebrate a job he enjoys.
“I had a pretty good feeling going into it. Speedcubing really helps with quick hands and pattern recognition, so there’s a lot of crossovers with counting containers,” Joel said.
“I’m really excited about the win, and if it encourages more people to get involved in container recycling then that’s even better. Come down to the Nambour depot, recycle your containers and you might even get to see me in action counting!”
A local recycling superstar
Joel’s speed has already made him something of a crowd favourite with locals who visit the depot.
Jason Irwin, owner of Urban Depot, said Joel’s win was well deserved and reflected the strong team behind the depot.
“We have regular recyclers who drop off their containers and then stop to watch Joel do his counting, it’s brilliant,” Mr Irwin said.
“Joel is one of 13 team members who keep the depot running smoothly and help locals recycle their containers every day. We’re proud to support our community and make a positive difference.”
The people powering container recycling
Every day, Containers for Change team members across the state manually count thousands of containers returned by Queenslanders doing the right thing for the environment.
These depots play an important role in their communities - creating local jobs while helping Queenslanders recycle and earn refunds for their containers.
Joel’s impressive speed and accuracy is a great reminder of the skill and dedication of the people working on the frontline to make container recycling possible.
Ready to make your impact?
Sign up for a member number and start tracking your returns today.