The Challenge
Wilcannia, located in western NSW, had a litter problem – with a large number of bottles and cans lying around on the street. The community also has a high unemployment level and a relatively high degree of socio-economic disadvantage.
The Solution
The creation of a Return and Earn Collection Point at the Wilcannia Aboriginal Land Council had a really positive environmental effect in the community – significantly reducing the number of bottles and cans lying on the street. They were also able to employ someone to count and pack everything and received additional funding to employ another two people part-time.
The Results
A Return and Earn Collection Point was established at the Wilcannia Aboriginal Land Council to provide the local community with access to Return and Earn in this remote western NSW community.
The Future
Jenny Thwaites, CEO of the Wilcannia Aboriginal Land Council says of partnership with TOMRA Cleanaway hosting a return point, “It’s been really good – obviously the money is a big encouragement in a community that has such a high unemployment level and a really high degree of socio-economic disadvantage but it’s also reduced the number of bottles and cans lying on the street and it seems to be having a flow on effect in that there’s generally not as much rubbish which is really good.
We’ve working a bit more closely with the local council as another part of the overall waste management program has been general litter collection and the council and the land council work together on that.
TOMRA Cleanaway has been really good – their CEO was actually going to come out and visit because he was really positive about the response from the community, but unfortunately that’s been put off as we don’t want any bugs [COVID] in the community. He’s still really keen to come out – they’ve been really supportive.“
