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The NSW Return and Earn scheme has hit a new record, celebrating a staggering 13 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the return point network since the scheme began.
This means over $1.3 billion in container refunds have gone back into people’s pockets, helping with the cost of living, saving for a special goal or supporting amazing causes. Over $72 million has also been raised for charities and community groups through donations and return point hosting fees.
Following a record-breaking summer, with 23 December 2024 setting a record for the biggest single day ever at 10.3 million containers, 2024 ended as our biggest year yet with 2.125 billion containers returned.
“This achievement shows just how important drink container recycling is across NSW. With over 650 convenient and accessible return points, it has never been easier to recycle in our state,” said James Dorney, CEO of network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway.
“Thanks to the people of NSW, what was once seen as waste is now a valuable resource, delivering significant environmental, social and economic benefits. ”
The impact of recycling 13 billion drink containers through Return and Earn instead of using virgin materials to create new containers is:
- Two out of every three eligible drink containers supplied in NSW are now redeemed, increasing recycling rates and reducing the beverage industry’s reliance on virgin PET, glass and aluminium.
- Water savings equivalent to 30,524 Olympic swimming pools and energy savings equivalent to powering 136,864 Aussie homes for an entire year.
- CO-2 emission savings equivalent to taking 582,215 cars off the road annually.
“Since launching in December 2017, Return and Earn has grown into one of the most successful recycling initiatives in the state, with 8 out of 10 NSW adults making Return and Earn part of their regular routine, most visiting monthly or more often,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of scheme coordinator, Exchange for Change.
“Recycling isn’t just about cleaning up the environment – it’s about turning waste into valuable resources to grow our circular economy. Together, we are contributing 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,” said Ms. Smalley.
Return and Earn has raised funds for everything from weddings and holidays to free care flights for sick children and meals for people doing it tough. Community members can donate their refund to one of over 300 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app or to the current statewide donation partner, food relief charity, Foodbank NSW & ACT.
Return and Earn is delivered in partnership between the NSW Environment Protection Authority, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.
For more information visit www.returnandearn.org.au.
RETURN AND EARN KEY POINTS
- An additional 3.5 billion drink containers have been returned via kerbside collections using the yellow bin.
- More than 1.1 million tonnes of materials have been recycled through the scheme overall, contributing to a 73 per cent reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels. By material type, the most common drink containers recycled through the scheme are aluminium (5.6 billion), PET (3.6 billion) and glass (3.2 billion).
- The statewide return point network includes Return and Earn machines, over-the-counter return points, and depots and bulk centres for returning larger quantities.
Latest independent consumer research found:
- 82% of NSW adults have participated in the scheme either by recycling at a return point or by giving their containers to someone else to return.
- Young people aged 18-24 recycled more (75 per cent) than those aged 65 or older (66 per cent), although older NSW residents recycled more frequently.
- A higher proportion of people in regional NSW have participated (72%), significantly more than those in metropolitan NSW (65%).
*Results of Verian’s Return and Earn consumer research report (December 2024).
