Residents have recycled more than 85 million cans, bottles and other items at Return and Earn sites across the Wagga local government area over the past four years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Return and Earn NSW container deposit scheme launched in December 2017 and has just marked its fourth birthday.
Environmental volunteer Gordon Murray said the scheme has proven to be quite spectacular in Wagga and close surrounding locations in particular.
"There's a lot of people in Wagga using it," Mr Murray said.
"It's good. Kids have been putting a lot of stuff through the sites for pocket money and things like that.
"It goes to show if you provide an easy mechanism and reward people will respond."
Mr Murray said the scheme has significantly reduced the volume of material going into landfill.
One of Wagga's biggest Return and Earn sites is the Vinnies Bulk Container Deposit Centre located on Hammond Avenue.
The centre boasts automated sorting and counting at up to 100 containers per minute and has the capacity to process up to 100,000 containers a day.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Site supervisor Paul Tonkin said while the scheme has been running for four years, the Wagga centre has been running for three. Alone, it processes tens of thousands of cans and bottles a day.
The centre is one of several across NSW opened by St Vincent de Paul in partnership with the scheme.
Vinnies Return and Earn sites across the state have processed more than 200 million containers all together, which paints a picture of just how much the scheme is contributing to the state's recycling efforts.
Danielle Smalley, the chief executive of the scheme's coordinator Exchange for Change, said the Wagga Return and Earn site users have helped contribute to the more than 6.5 billion containers returned across the state since its launch.
More than 40 million containers are processed through the scheme statewide every week.
"This equates to 595,500 tonnes of materials recycled and more than $650 million in refunds going back into the community," Ms Smalley said.
Ms Smalley said three out of four adults in NSW are participating in the scheme, which highlights just how popular it really is.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
Taylor Dodge
Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it. I have five years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it. I have five years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
