NSW’s bottle recycling scheme Return and Earn has recycled 9 billion bottles, cans and drink cartons.
The scheme, funded by the beverage industry, has partnerships with Exchange for Change as scheme coordinator and Tomra Cleanaway as its network operator.
Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, said the community’s tremendous support is delivering “huge benefits” to the environment.
“These funds are helping offset people’s weekly shopping costs, providing pocket money for kids and have become an important avenue for fundraising across the state.”
James Dorney, CEO of Tomra Cleanaway, said the scheme has a “positive and measurable impact” with 100 per cent of glass and plastic containers collected through the network reprocessed into new containers and food-grade packaging right here in Australia.
In NSW, 89 per cent support the scheme and 82 per cent have participated in it. There are about 606 return points across the state with 837,000 tonnes of material recycled to date.
- Further reading: Retail welcomes expansion of national plastic recycling fund
