Aug 22, 2017

Narelle Anderson is the founder and managing director of Envirobank, Australia’s largest network of reverse vending machines and automated recycling depots. 
In 2000 she was the first aboriginal woman (she is the great niece of the late Senator Neville Bonner) to solely own a waste management company, buying and expanding CBD Enviro Services, then selling through a trade sale to a public company.
In 2008 she founded Envirobank Recycling and introduced Australia to the concept of Reverse Vending Technology. Initially starting the business to reward and incentivize consumers for recycling, this technology is now going to underpin the Container Deposit Schemes being rolled out across Australia. In December this year NSW becomes the first state (after longstanding SA and NT) to legislate a Container Deposit Schemes.
Like her great uncle she is passionate about indigenous welfare and has achieved many firsts as an indigenous woman and entrepreneur. In Narelle’s words ‘my culture makes me a custodian of the land so cleaning up the country seems a natural fit. Narelle is a self starter, she has developed a business few women would consider and she has been very successful both financially and from a business perspective. Interviewing her was a intense because as with all successful  individuals their journey is never easy and is often peppered with challenge and loss. Narelle gives us a beautiful account of her life to date and I can only expect that she will continue to make us very proud.