How one Aussie woman turned trash into $15,000
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Earning extra cash might be easier than you think—especially if you're willing to see value where others see waste.
One Melbourne woman has turned an everyday habit into a surprising side hustle, with benefits that go far beyond her own wallet.
Her unusual success story is also shining a light on a new statewide push to get more Australians involved in recycling.
A Melbourne woman who proudly called herself a ‘binfluencer’ claimed she made around $15,000 from collecting discarded cans and bottles, thanks to Victoria’s container deposit scheme.
Sayo Leahy, 39,shared that she had been cashing in on the state’s 10 cent refund for every eligible container since the program launched in November 2023.
‘There’s always cans on the side of the road, wherever you go there’s always trash,’ she said.
She often ventured into suburban streets the night before bin day, or simply collected what she saw while walking, gathering hundreds of containers in a single outing.
‘OnlyCans’ was the nickname she jokingly gave herself as she embraced her unconventional side hustle.
‘People don’t realise 10 cents can really add up and help, especially since you can just put your can next to your bin and then donate them,’ she said.
Her efforts not only eased her own financial pressure but also allowed her to donate to charities.
‘I calculated I’ve made about $15k, but obviously there’s some costs involved, like fuel and wear and tear of the ute,’ she explained.
Sayo encouraged others to participate, stressing that the scheme didn’t require much effort to be worthwhile.
‘I think it’s amazing that we’ve finally established it in Victoria. It’s been a long time coming.’
She also took part in the launch event for the government’s ‘Win a million cents’ competition earlier this month, which happened to fall on her birthday.
At the event, she was photographed holding a sign featuring the campaign’s logo and posing beside a can-shaped mascot.
Under the initiative, Victorians who returned at least 50 containers in a single donation before 15 June were eligible to win one of five $10,000 cash prizes.
Every Australian state and territory now operated its own version of the scheme, offering cash incentives to promote recycling.
Schools had also embraced the movement, with inter-school competitions motivating students to take part.
National programs like Mobile Muster encouraged students to recycle unused phones and accessories, while TerraCycle focused on harder-to-recycle waste like beauty product containers and plastic packaging.
The cash-for-containers initiative had inspired a growing number of Aussies to see the value in what others throw away.
Discover how Sayo’s incredible journey has transformed not only her life but also brought attention to the power of small actions adding up.
Watch now and get inspired to start your own recycling mission!
Source: Instagram/anthonycianflonemp
With recycling programs expanding across Australia, how do you think these incentives will change the way we all think about everyday waste? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
One Melbourne woman has turned an everyday habit into a surprising side hustle, with benefits that go far beyond her own wallet.
Her unusual success story is also shining a light on a new statewide push to get more Australians involved in recycling.
A Melbourne woman who proudly called herself a ‘binfluencer’ claimed she made around $15,000 from collecting discarded cans and bottles, thanks to Victoria’s container deposit scheme.
Sayo Leahy, 39,shared that she had been cashing in on the state’s 10 cent refund for every eligible container since the program launched in November 2023.
‘There’s always cans on the side of the road, wherever you go there’s always trash,’ she said.
Melbourne woman earns $15,000 from recycling. Image source: Instagram/onlycans_victoria
She often ventured into suburban streets the night before bin day, or simply collected what she saw while walking, gathering hundreds of containers in a single outing.
‘OnlyCans’ was the nickname she jokingly gave herself as she embraced her unconventional side hustle.
‘People don’t realise 10 cents can really add up and help, especially since you can just put your can next to your bin and then donate them,’ she said.
Her efforts not only eased her own financial pressure but also allowed her to donate to charities.
‘I calculated I’ve made about $15k, but obviously there’s some costs involved, like fuel and wear and tear of the ute,’ she explained.
Sayo encouraged others to participate, stressing that the scheme didn’t require much effort to be worthwhile.
‘I think it’s amazing that we’ve finally established it in Victoria. It’s been a long time coming.’
She also took part in the launch event for the government’s ‘Win a million cents’ competition earlier this month, which happened to fall on her birthday.
At the event, she was photographed holding a sign featuring the campaign’s logo and posing beside a can-shaped mascot.
Under the initiative, Victorians who returned at least 50 containers in a single donation before 15 June were eligible to win one of five $10,000 cash prizes.
Every Australian state and territory now operated its own version of the scheme, offering cash incentives to promote recycling.
Schools had also embraced the movement, with inter-school competitions motivating students to take part.
National programs like Mobile Muster encouraged students to recycle unused phones and accessories, while TerraCycle focused on harder-to-recycle waste like beauty product containers and plastic packaging.
The cash-for-containers initiative had inspired a growing number of Aussies to see the value in what others throw away.
Discover how Sayo’s incredible journey has transformed not only her life but also brought attention to the power of small actions adding up.
Watch now and get inspired to start your own recycling mission!
Source: Instagram/anthonycianflonemp
With recycling programs expanding across Australia, how do you think these incentives will change the way we all think about everyday waste? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
