Narelle Anderson dropped out of school at 16 but went on to forge a successful career in the recycling industry with her latest enterprise -Envirobank- turning over more than 20 million dollars and operating in several states.
Narelle Anderson got her first job at the age of 14 and left school at 16 but she never looked back.
Despite her limited education she's built a successful businesses in the waste and recycling industry. She sold her first company, CBD recycling services, for $2 million dollars in 2007.
Using this money she launched Envirobank which today turns over more than $20 million and employs more than 100 people across the country.
Envirobank Recycling’s business model is based on rewarding and incentivising people to do the right thing for the environment: recycle.
It is very fortuitous to be nominated during Indigenous Business Month.
The company is built around a network of reverse vending machines where users can deposit cans or bottles and cash out rewards including points for Hoyts movie tickets, groceries from Coles supermarket or Virgin Frequent Flyer points.
Narelle Anderson has been shortlisted for the 2019 EBA Awards in the “Indigenous in Business category” which will be announced this Monday 28/10/2019 in Sydney.
Ironically as a young girl, Narelle Anderson was paid $6 per week by the Australian government to attend school. It was this payment which first made her aware of her Indigenous heritage and inspired her journey into entrepreneurship.
She is proud of the impact of her business especially on Indigenous communities. “Everybody is interested in recycling and it is great to be paid to do the right thing,” Narelle Anderson said in a yarn with NITV Radio ahead of the EBA Awards.
The fact that this year's EBA Awards coincide with the peak of Indigenous Business Month (October) resonates very strongly with her.
She said that as an Indigenous business operator it is very important to be acknowledged, especially when you are doing the hard yards.
“It is very fortuitous to be nominated during Indigenous Business Month,” Narelle Anderson said.
