Charity Return Point Operators

Vinnies’ NSW journey to a new enterprise, operating container collection points across NSW.

In December 2017, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW partnered with TOMRA Cleanaway as a return point operator for the NSW government’s Container Deposit Scheme ‘Return and Earn’.

Their initial commitment was to provide community access to Return and Earn via return points hosted in their existing retail store outlets. This subsequently evolved over time and ever-increasing volumes of containers, to include 7 Automated Depot bulk container collection points across metropolitan and regional NSW.

The Vinnies NSW CDS operation has been one of the most successful new ventures for the organisation, generating significant revenue that is directed back into Vinnies traditional social and welfare programs to assist people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

Across their Return and Earn sites Vinnies are now processing in excess of 1.5 Million containers per week and have processed over 200 Million containers to date.

With an expansive number of sites across NSW, Vinnies have formed a new commercial operating arm, which has required new and specialised employees to be engaged to directly operate Vinnies facilities to deliver container collection and processing for Return and Earn.

In forming multiple partnerships across the state, involvement with TOMRA Cleanaway has also enabled the development of a joint venture automated depot with an Aboriginal owned and operated organisation in far western NSW– Regional Enterprise Development Institute (REDI.E). The location that is operated as a JV between Vinnies and REDI.E is based at Dubbo and provides citizens from the far west of NSW with an opportunity to deliver bulk volumes of containers to the site for redemption.

Key facts about Vinnies operational involvement:

• Operating 7 x large scale automated depots, warehouse sites across metropolitan and regional NSW (Cardiff, Dubbo, Penrith, South Nowra, Tweed Heads, Unanderra and Wagga Wagga)
• Generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in handling fees and refunds donated that are going back to social and welfare programs to assist vulnerable community members.
• Serviced by dedicated staff and operating 6 days a week: Monday – Saturday, 8.30am – 3.30pm
• Bulk sorting and counting technology provided on throughput lease, minimising upfront capital investment.
• Every container processed generates a handling fee, Vinnies is also able to promote refund donations
• Established close partnerships with local businesses, schools and community groups
• No volume limit, no pre-sorting required, clean, undercover processing area, drive-in access

Valmar Industries, creating a revolution in the Snowy Valley

Valmar Industries is a disability support service associated with the recycling revolution in the Riverina – Snowy Valley of NSW. Traditionally Valmar has provided in-home support for people with disabilities, but as waste and recycling innovation has occurred, Valmar has been able to leverage the opportunity to open a business services arm that includes recycling facilities such as a Community Recycling Centre and an op-shop.

The organisation identified that the commencement of the container deposit scheme in December 2017 was an opportunity to further expand its business services arm, an over-the-counter return point was established. This operation grew quickly in popularity and 2018 saw a transition to an automated depot and a bulk container processing centre for the region.

Key facts about Valmar Industries operational involvement:

• Managing 1 x large scale automated depot in Gilmore, near Tumut in NSW Snowy Valleys Council area
• Operating 5 days a week
• Using the scheme’s bulk sorting and counting technology provided on throughput lease, minimising upfront capital investment
• No volume limit, no pre-sorting required, clean, undercover processing area, drive-in access
• Staff are involved in diverse activities that provide them with meaningful work, assisting customers, sorting containers, and other activities discussed in consultation with their support workers. Around 50 people living with disabilities, who otherwise face barriers to employment, are employed at the Gilmore site.

An innovative Waste2Wages business model sees Resource Recovery Australis’s keep waste out of landfill to create jobs for people experiencing barriers to employment.

RRA has a focus on empowering people experiencing barriers to employment including creating meaningful employment opportunities and providing ongoing training and development.

Resource Recovery Australia (RRA) is a national, not-for-profit social enterprise, founded in Tuncurry, on the mid-north coast of NSW that has been running for over 30 years, focusing on empowering people experiencing barriers to employment including creating meaningful employment opportunities and providing ongoing training and development.

The Tuncurry centre is an important community asset for locals to engage in recycling and care for the environment, offering a reuse shop, a community recycling centre, communal gardens, a green bikes program, a Men’s shed and much more in partnership with Mid-Coast Council.

When Return and Earn launched, RRA initially opened two over-the-counter return points as a partner of TOMRA Cleanaway. The volumes of containers returned grew so rapidly that soon the organisation needed to scale up operations and open an automated depot. 

Funds raised through the automated depot create more employment opportunities for people in these types of situations. 20,000 containers returned daily at the RRA automated deport equates to $2,000 each day going back into the community.

Key facts about RRA operational involvement:

• Managing 1 large Automated Depot in partnership with Mid-Coast Council in regional northern NSW.
• 4 dedicated staff members across operations involved in a variety of activities including cash handling and yellow gear operation in a regional area with low employment opportunities.
• Staff able to obtain white cards and forklift licenses to assist employment activities.
• Complements additional onsite activities as a resource recovery centre for the mid-coast NSW community.
• Considerable community partnerships with local charities and community groups for the collection of donated containers.

Bourke Laundry Service is empowering people living with disabilities

Founded over twenty years ago, Bourke Laundry Service’s goal is to empower people in their community living with disabilities.

Since the beginning of the scheme in December 2017, their Return and Earn collection point has been welcomed with open arms by the people of Bourke Shire and Bourke Laundry Services quickly found themselves in need of additional staff to handle the large influx of drink containers.

In addition to generating funds, Bourke Laundry Service has been able to offer employment to people living with disabilities, creating a virtuous circle of fundraising, job creation, community and environmental benefits.

Generating additional revenue each month is giving the business the chance to offer members of the public living with disabilities employment and providing them with a sense of pride and inclusion

So, in addition to generating funds, Bourke Laundry Service was able to offer employment to people living with disabilities, creating a virtuous circle of fundraising, job creation, community and environmental benefits.  The Bourke Laundry Service was able to employ specific staff whose role is to look after the container collection activity. Responsibilities include sorting and counting containers, packing bags and consolidating the containers for collection. This frees up other staff to work in the laundry.

Key facts about Bourke Laundry Service operational involvement:

• Managing 1 x Over-The-Counter Collection Point (OTC) in Bourke
• Operating 5 days a week
• Supplement our existing social enterprise by accepting empty containers
• Earn a handling fee as well as promote refund donations (confirm handling fee)
• Bins and pick up provided, cash float offered
• Simple sorting procedure, automated reporting