The Crystal Ailan dream to see the Islands of the Torres Strait glistening like the tropical gems they are shone through last month with the official opening of the Badu Island Containers for Change facility.

Crystal Ailan is Torres Strait Creole for “Crystal island”, and owners Edmund and Phyllis Tamwoy have already noticed a welcome change in behaviour on their home island. Badu locals are collecting containers for the 10c refund available, growing from around one hundred per week when they first opened, to more than ten times that just four weeks later.

This not only positively affects the physical environment, but is also creating impacts in other areas too. Community events have become more inclusive, with even non-drinkers heading to parties to socialise and grab a few empty containers to recycle Edmund told us. The facility purposefully does not have automated counting machines either, creating three new jobs already to count the containers and separate them for baling (compacting into manageable bundles of similar materials). It is also estimated that the facility has already returned more than $10,000 in refunds to the local community.

Crystal Ailan benefits from behind-the-scenes support from Cairns-based Not-for-profit organisation Community Owned Enterprises. Support has ranged from book-keeping and payroll, to grant writing and feasibility studies that have helped the Tamwoys to grow their business ventures since early 2021.

Edmund meets with Ministers Scanlon and Lui in Cairns recently

This continuing support combined with encouragement from TSRA and policymakers including MP Cynthia Lui and Queensland’s outgoing Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon, Crystal Ailan is setting its sights on expanding the Containers for Change program to other islands in the group. With eighteen other inhabited islands in the region, many of which have never benefited from a recycling program, there is fantastic growth potential for the business. As on Badu, new facilities would be structured to support the local communities through multiple employment, construction and training opportunities, as well as providing clear environmental benefits.

On a recent visit to Cairns, Community Owned Enterprises staff were able to present a small token of our congratulations and pride in Crystal Ailan’s success to Edmund. We will continue to support the organisation to grow and develop into the future.

Update August 2023: The facility has processed more than 200,000 containers, returning more than $20K to the island community.

It now employs two permanent staff and a further two relief staff to keep up with the demand!