More opportunities than meets the eye
Return and Earn, the NSW container deposit scheme provides fantastic social and community outcomes. Community impact and benefit includes, extra funds to support families, employment opportunities and fundraising opportunities for charities and community groups. TOMRA Cleanaway is incredibly proud of the support our networks provide to the communities we operate in.
On Sunday 17 November 2024, the annual Convoy took place in Illawarra, raising more than $2.5 million for the Illawarra Community Foundation. This major community event saw trucks and motorbikes travel for 80 kilometres to a family fun day with rides, stalls and entertainment.
Convoy was yet another great example of Return and Earn benefiting the community.
Wollongong Return and Earn Depot Operator Vinnies NSW teamed up with not-for-profit Green Connect to collect and process containers from the Illlawarra Convoy.
With Convoy comes an immense amount of community support. For not-for-profit social enterprise, Green Connect, the Convoy creates more opportunities than meets the eye.
Green Connect were responsible for the event cleaning and waste management on the day. Important employment opportunities for 31 locals experiencing barriers to work.
Container collections at Convoy Family Fun Day
Green Connect provided a team of hardworking people to keep the family fun day clean and hygienic. The Green Connect Zero Waste team provided litter picking, bin changes and waste education to attendees, helping them to choose the right bin and reduce their environmental footprint.
As part of their commitment to reducing waste, the organisation hand-separated waste including bottles and cans and returned them to the Wollongong Return and Earn Depot, operated by Vinnies NSW.
“It was crowded but people were doing the right thing and were very receptive to the waste educators,” Ranjith Kumar, Green Connect Zero Waste Coordinator.
Refunds supporting opportunities
Green Connect raised $390.70 through the 10c refunds to support their work providing employment opportunities to people experiencing barriers to work, such as young people and former refugees.
Supporting Vinnies great work
Richard O’Keefe, Area Manager Vinnies Return and Earn Depots, was delighted with the result. “The work that our colleagues at Green Connect do in the Illawarra is fantastic, and our small part in this process has been a privilege,” he said.
“Together, we managed to process over 3,900 bottles and cans. Knowing these containers will be recycled, largely into new bottles, is great for the environment and the community.”
As a return point operator, Vinnies NSW receives a handling fee for every container processed through the Wollongong Return and Earn Depot. This has become an important revenue stream for St Vincent de Paul Society which is reinvested into the community through their programs and services supporting the Illawarra community.
Strong environmental outcomes for regions
Richard said, “I was impressed to learn that the PET plastic bottles returned through Return and Earn are recycled at the Circular Plastics Australia plant in Albury. It’s another great regional success story for NSW.”
TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to partner with Vinnies NSW, which operates 10 Return and Earn Depots across NSW.
