How many bottles and cans do 130,000 motorsport fans go through in three days?

Key points: Hermit Park Primary School P and C approached the Townsville 400 organisers to run the first container recycling initiative at a Supercars event

Hermit Park Primary School P and C approached the Townsville 400 organisers to run the first container recycling initiative at a Supercars event Bottles and cans are to be cashed in under Queensland's container refund scheme

Bottles and cans are to be cashed in under Queensland's container refund scheme The recycling idea could be replicated at other Supercars events

A lot.

For the first time in the event's 11-year history, the Townsville 400 trialled a container recycling initiative this year.

Hermit Park State School came up with the idea of collecting empties from the event and then cashing them in under the Queensland Government's container refund scheme.

The school's Parents and Citizens Association is fundraising for an $80,000 playground.

"It is a very glamourous job," said parent Corrina Goldburg, who was up to her shoulders in a wheelie bin.

"It is not for the faint-hearted because there is a lot of food and hot dogs and leftover chips in here," she said.

"But every 10 cents will count for our Ninja Warrior playground."

Sixty-five students, parents and teachers collected recyclables over the three days, netting 40 bales of bottles and cans. ( Supplied: Hermit Park State School )

Recycling idea could roll out to more Supercars events

Townsville 400 event manager Sam Pearce said staff alone go through 14 pallets (30,000 bottles) of water in three days and prior to this year, they all went to landfill.

"In the past we have done a couple of recycling programs that were mainly bulk items such as cardboard and plastic," Mr Pearce said.

Mr Pearce said if successful, the school's recycling initiative was likely to be replicated at future Supercars events.

"This is a test and pilot event… we will probably see this rollout at a number of events after this," Mr Pearce said.

"Fundraising it a major source of their income for the year and it is great to be able to see that going back into the community," he said.

Bottle caps were collected for upcycling into prosthetic limbs through the Limbs 4 Kids program. ( ABC North Queensland: Nathalie Fernbach )

Environment the ultimate winner

The school's group of 65 volunteer students, parents and teachers collected and sorted about 30,000 cans and bottles over three days.

The empties are being processed by Townsville recycling group Envirobank and the bottle caps will be upcycled into prosthetic limbs under the Limbs 4 Kids initiative.

Ms Goldburg said they were likely to receive about $3,000 to put towards their new playground.

She said it was hard work to organise, but she would encourage other schools to replicate the initiative at other motorsport events.

"It is an easy fundraiser and it is a good opportunity to teach kids about recycling and we are saving a whole lot of bottles and cans from going into the bins."