Vinnies Return and Earn depots are supporting the environment and services in the local community. Photo: Keeli Dyson.
Return and Earn depots at Unanderra and South Nowra have reached the major milestone of processing a combined 200 million containers and returning $20 million to the local community while supporting vital programs and services at one of the state’s leading charities.
The Illawarra and Shoalhaven’s recycling efforts are supporting environmental and social change with two depots operated by St Vincent de Paul marking a significant milestone after an end of year spike.
Two hundred million cans, bottles and other recyclable containers have been diverted from landfill at the two facilities since they opened in 2018, with the recycling benefits equivalent to saving enough energy to power 2730 households for a year, enough water to fill 469 Olympic swimming pools, and avoiding carbon emissions equivalent to taking 14,534 cars off the road for an entire year.
“This milestone is a reflection of the region’s strong community spirit and environmental commitment,” said Phil Coyte, Executive Director of Commercial Enterprise, Retail and Fundraising at the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW.
“That’s $20 million going back to our community and countless bottles and cans kept out of landfill.”
The convenient drive-through facilities have the capacity to sort plastics from glass and process up to 100 containers per minute.
The milestone comes after record-breaking highs for the Vinnies depots across the state, with more than four million containers returned across 10 depots in NSW in just one week.
As the return point operator of the depots, the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW receives a handling fee for each container processed which is reinvested back into the community through support programs.
“Every container returned helps fund the [St Vincent de Paul] Society NSW’s local services, providing food, financial support, accommodation, and more to those who need it most,” Mr Coyte said.
In the past year, the organisation has supported 13,500 people in the Illawarra and surrounds, distributing more than $2 million in assistance to help locals afford essentials such as food, clothing and housing costs.
“The community’s recycling through Return and Earn provides the critical funding the [St Vincent de Paul] Society NSW needs to provide crucial support,” Return and Earn network operator TOMRA Cleanaway CEO James Dorney said.
“We are incredibly proud of this partnership and the significant difference it makes across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.”
The Unanderra depot at 10-12 Investigator Drive operates Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and Sunday, 9 am to 4pm.
The Shoalhaven facility, at Unit 11 158 Princes Hwy, South Nowra, is open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm, and on Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm.
