Return and Earn stations put millions back into Illawarra economy

In a little under eight years almost 13 billion bottles, cans and cartons have been diverted from landfill thanks to 650 Return and Earn stations across NSW.

According to data from the scheme that’s more than two out of every three drink containers sold in the state.

It also means more than $1.29 billion in container refunds have gone back into people’s pockets, helping with the cost of living, saving for a special goal or to support charity.

More than $62 million has also been raised for charities and community groups through donations and return point hosting fees.

Return and Earn reckons eight out of 10 NSW adults have participated at some point, and the majority of those do so monthly.

One of those is Kanahooka resident Ben Venn.

He regularly takes a bucket of bottles and cans to the Return and Earn station at Dandaloo, and said he was a big fan of the reverse vending machines.

“It puts money straight back in your pocket, and helps stop our tips overflowing,” he said.

“In countries like Canada I’ve seen the impact it can have on homeless people as a source of income too. They kept the city centre clean and in turn could make enough to buy a decent dinner.”

Return and Earn spokesperson, James Dorney, CEO of return point network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway said the Illawarra community were enthusiastic users of Return and Earn and had collectively returned 519,627,182 drink containers through local return points since the scheme began.

“I encourage everyone to make Return and Earn a part of your regular recycling routine,” he said.

“Together we can all contribute 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.”

Unfortunately, Retun and Earn couldn’t provide recycling statistics for each station in the Illawarra, but it was able to break down donations per local government area.

Since the scheme began in 2017, Wollongong residents have returned almost 365 million bottles and cans.

Wollongong City Council has installed about 136 Return and Earn bin baskets in foreshores and parks from Stanwell Park to Windang.

The baskets are attached to bins in public areas. Other members of the public are free to collect them from the bin baskets for recycling through Return and Earn to get the 10c refund for every eligible container.

Mig Arellano, Waste Operations Coordinator at Wollongong City Council said the baskets had been a big success.

“We found that quite a lot of kids go around collecting for pocket money, which has been great,” he said.

In Shellharbour almost 134 million containers have been diverted from landfill via Return and Earn stations.

Kiama residents have made almost 21 million contributions to their station.

The service has been suspended in the electorate while the new Woolworths is built.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward has launched a petition for the return of a Kiama Return and Earn station, which he said contributes more than $200,000 annually to charities, causes and individuals.

The petition can be found here.

If you’d like your Return and Earn cash to go towards charity, or a local group, there are a couple of options.

On the app there are more than 300 donation partners listed, but the list of local causes is a bit smaller.

Green Connect, Berry Public School P&C, the Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services and Women Illawarra Inc are all organisations that keep your donation in the Illawarra community.