“This 15 billion container milestone is an incredible win for both the planet and the New South Wales community. It means more than $1.5 billion has been refunded to recyclers across the state, easing the cost of living, fuelling personal savings goals, and helping empower countless community and charity organisations. Every bottle, can and carton returned is a step in the right direction towards a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.”
James Dorney, CEO of network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.
New Year Cheer: 15 billion containers recycled in Return and Earn milestone
Recyclers from across New South Wales have benefited from $1.5 billion in refunds by returning a record 15 billion containers through the NSW container deposit scheme, Return and Earn.
Enthusiasm for Return and Earn has seen the total number of eligible bottles, cartons and cans returned through the return point network soar from 14 billion to 15 billion containers in less than six months.
The estimated environmental benefits of the scheme, which launched in December 2017, include:
- Energy savings equivalent to powering 204,750 homes for a year
- Water savings equivalent to 35,186 Olympic swimming pools
- CO2 emissions equivalent to taking nearly 1.1 million cars off the road for a year.
Return and Earn was first introduced as a litter reduction initiative and has become an integral part of NSW’s circular economy, with glass and plastic bottles processed and back on the shelves within weeks of being returned.
A network supporting communities
The staggering 15 billion milestone has been reached as the TOMRA Cleanaway network for Return and Earn is more accessible than ever. The network now includes over 660 return points including:
- 364 Return and Earn machines
- 48 Return and Earn depots and
- 193 over-the-counter return points.
10c refunds donated to help support local causes
Return and Earn has also become a key fundraising platform for charities and community groups, with over $91.5 million in container refund donations and fees from hosting return points to support worthy causes since 2017.
Jeans for Genes is the latest major donation partner and is hoping to raise $200,000 through drink container refunds to support research into treatments and cures for children’s genetic conditions.
Recyclers can choose to donate to over 500 charities and community groups on the Return and Earn app. Whether you want to support a local cause, animal rescue, sporting club, environmental or medical cause, there are options to easily donate your full 10 cent refund to the cause that matters to you.
