Little Ashton is hard at work collecting cans and bottles. Photo: Erin Hee.
If you’ve got cans and bottles in your house, and your nearest Return and Earn station isn’t actually that near, the Hain brothers want you to consider them instead.
Ashton & Gabe’s Can-Tastic Crew (made up of Ashton, aged four, and Gabe, aged seven) are travelling around Wagga collecting cans and bottles.
In just one week, they have collected more than 800 cans, putting $83.10 in the bank, which was from around 10 pick-ups.
Their mother, Jett Annear, could not be more proud of her boys. They started out collecting along Lake Albert, but now travel as far as Forest Hill.
Residents of Lake Albert might spot Ashton on his scooter, and Gabe pulling a cartful of recyclables on his bike.
“If they live in Lake Albert, we will ride to them,” Ms Annear said. “But if not, we will drive.”
Look out for this bike! Photo: Ashton & Gabe’s Can-Tastic Crew.
So far, little Ashton has been enjoying these pick-ups with his older brother and has been asking his mum, ‘Do we have any bottles or cans to go get?’ every day.
“We didn’t have any yesterday, but today we’ll go get some out in Tolland,” she said.
Ms Annear said the whole thing started after they watched Wall-E. The boys wanted to do something for the environment, and she thought it was a good bonding activity that could keep the boys healthy and fit.
Their parents’ trip to Japan may have played a small part.
For her 30th birthday, Ms Annear went to Japan with her husband.
“I got to meet Mario [in Universal Studios] and they got to see photos of it,” she joked.
“So they were keen to earn some money, and I was like, ‘Well, if you can save up to go, we can go.'”
Besides their Japan trip, the boys also want to save for a Nintendo Switch 2. A portion of the money will be used to help kids in need, such as through the Kmart Wishing Tree and Big W Giving Tree.
“It just depends on how big they can get by Christmastime,” Ms Annear said.
“Everything’s just getting put away in their piggy bank at the moment.”
When he grows up, Ashton wants to be a garbage truck driver like his mum during the day, and work in his dad’s pizza shop at night. But for now, he just wants to play with his light-up rain boots and collect bottles and cans with his brother.
Those wanting to support Ashton & Gabe’s Can-tastic Crew can arrange a collection by messaging Ms Annear on Facebook.
