The NSW Return and Earn scheme has achieved a major milestone, reaching 10 billion recycled cans and bottles at its return points – with users earning $1 billion in container refunds since the scheme began in 2017.
Return and Earn is delivered in partnership between the NSW government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change, and network operator Tomra Cleanaway, and is funded by the beverage industry.
To commemorate this milestone, Tomra Cleanaway welcomed Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe; NSW EPA CEO Tony Chappel; members of the Tomra Cleanaway Board – Tor Eirik Knutsen, Markus Fraval and Claire Halsey; and executives from Exchange for Change and from the Eastern Creek Central Counting and Sorting Centre.
“As proud network operator for Return and Earn in NSW, we are thrilled to be celebrating 10 billion containers and counting through our return points,” said Tomra Cleanaway.
“Ten billion containers collected is a huge number and was achieved through the dedication and commitment of our team, our awesome return point operators across the state, and incredible support from the NSW community.”
Since the beginning of the scheme, more than 923,000 tonnes of materials have been recycled through the scheme, and it has raised $47 million for charities and local community groups.
Also, by reusing the recycled materials instead of new products, the scheme has saved enough energy to power 110,000 homes for a year, and enough water to fill 23,000 Olympic swimming pools.
According to NSW EPA, two out of every three eligible drink containers supplied in NSW are now redeemed, increasing recycling rates and reducing the beverage industry’s reliance of virgin plastic, glass and aluminium.
“Ten billion items returned in NSW is a significant milestone that demonstrates Return and Earn is a circular economy success story, and we are already thinking to the next billion, and want to encourage every household to get on the bandwagon,“ said Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe.
“Drink container litter in NSW has more than halved. We need to continue reducing waste and emissions, increase recycling, and programs like Return and Earn make it possible.”
The Return and Earn network continues to grow, with more than 620 return points now operational across NSW.
