The NSW Return and Earn scheme has recycled 13 billion drink containers since its December 2017 launch, resulting in over $1.3 billion in refunds returned to participants and $72 million raised for charities and community groups through donations and return point hosting fees.
Return and Earn reports that two out of every three eligible drink containers supplied in NSW are now redeemed. This has reduced the beverage industry’s reliance on virgin PET, glass, and aluminium. According to the organisation, recycling 13 billion containers has saved the equivalent of 30,524 Olympic swimming pools of water and generated enough energy to power 136,864 homes for a year. Additionally, it has led to a reduction in CO2 emissions comparable to taking 582,215 cars off the road annually.
Following a record-breaking summer, which included the highest single-day return of 10.3 million containers on 23 December 2024, the scheme reported 2.125 billion containers recycled in 2024, the highest annual figure to date.
James Dorney, CEO of network operator TOMRA Cleanaway, said, “This achievement shows just how important drink container recycling is across NSW. With over 650 convenient and accessible return points, it has never been easier to recycle in our state.”
Danielle Smalley, CEO of scheme coordinator Exchange for Change, said, “Recycling isn't just about cleaning up the environment – it’s about turning waste into valuable resources to grow our circular economy. Together, we are contributing to a more sustainable future, where the materials that our bottles, cans and cartons are made of are kept in use and out of landfill."
The Return and Earn network includes reverse vending machines, over-the-counter return points, and bulk centres for larger quantities. An additional 3.5 billion drink containers have been recovered via kerbside recycling, contributing to a 73 per cent reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels. The most commonly recycled materials through the scheme are aluminium (5.6 billion), PET (3.6 billion), and glass (3.2 billion).
Independent consumer research by Verian (December 2024) found that 82 per cent of NSW adults have participated in the scheme, either by recycling containers themselves or giving them to others to return. Participation was higher in regional NSW (72 per cent) compared to metropolitan areas (65 per cent). Young people aged 18-24 had the highest participation rate at 75 per cent, while those aged 65 or older recycled more frequently.
The scheme is delivered in partnership between the NSW Environment Protection Authority, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change, and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.
