Bottle collectors around NSW have earned more than $700 million in container refunds since the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) launched its Return and Earn Scheme at the end of 2017.
Celebrating the milestone, Minister for the Environment, James Griffin said the Scheme had seen seven billion drink containers saved from landfill.
“Return and Earn has well and truly become part of life in New South Wales, with 78 per cent of adults having participated and two-thirds of participants doing so once a month or more,” Mr Griffin said.
“Along the way, the Return and Earn network has achieved a 52 per cent reduction in the volume of drink container litter in NSW and delivered more than 625,000 tonnes in materials recycled,” he said.
“Not only is it having a measurable environmental impact with two in every three containers supplied in NSW redeemed through the Scheme for recycling, Return and Earn has also become a stalwart of community fundraising activities in NSW.”
Mr Griffin said more than $30 million had been raised for charities via donations and fees since the Scheme started.
“It’s encouraging that thousands of schools, community groups, charities and sporting clubs are making Return and Earn the new ‘sausage sizzle’, helping raise much-needed funds for their own projects and causes.
“Return and Earn is an inspiring example of how small changes to our routine can have a significant collective impact.”
Further information on EPA’s Return and Earn Scheme can be accessed at this PS News link.
