The state-wide Return and Earn scheme has brought in the New Year with success, reducing litter, boosting local economies and creating job opportunities.
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Over the Christmas-New Year period, more than 91 million drink containers were processed across NSW, with 17.4 million of those returned in Wagga.
On January 2, a new record was set for the state as it processed 6.8 million drink containers for the day.
The state’s daily average is now at a steady 5.8 million returns, and the Wagga community is enjoying getting on board the program.
Ten-year-old Sydney boy Angus McCormack has helped boost Wagga’s return figures, dropping off cans for his grandparents while on a visit to the city.
As well as community support, the scheme has seen reductions in litter around the state, with a spokesperson for the NSW Environment Protection Authority stating drink container waste had lowered by 44 per cent across the state.
“This brings it to an all-time low of 37 per cent of the total NSW littler volume stream,” the EPA spokesperson said.
The EPA said the Wagga community’s participation had helped support local schools, community groups and charities.
“As well as redeeming 10 cents for each container, people returning to the two Wagga machines can also choose to donate their refund to one of the groups listed on the machine,” the EPA spokesperson said.
“These currently include local donation partner Wagga Urban Landcare, as well as statewide partners OzHarvest, the McGrath Foundation, and the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.”
Any local schools, charities, community or sporting groups who want to feature on a reverse vending machine can also request to do so.
The Return and Earn scheme has also seen employment opportunities become available for processing the drink containers, organising collections and managing depot locations.
The monetary value of refunds are also flowing back into communities to circulate spending and boost the economy.
The two reverse-vending machine locations in Wagga are based at the Woolworths on Gurwood Street and Lake Albert Road, and people can also use the donation station on Fox Street if they are not seeking refunds in return for drinking containers.