AFTER one year of the Return and Earn scheme Orange’s collection points have accepted about half the number of Dubbo’s deposited containers.
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The initiative commenced on December 1 last year, offering residents the chance to earn a 10-cent refund on cans and selected plastic and glass bottles.
Across NSW, more than 944 million containers have been returned to a mix of Reverse Vending Machines, over-the-counter points and automated bulky depots.
Around 50 million of those deposits have been in the Central West, with Orange’s two RVM – located at the north Orange shopping centre and outside Flip Out in Edward Street – responsible for accepting 6,398,147 items.
Last year the RVM network was closed on Christmas Day and reopened on Boxing Day and we expect it to be the same this year.
- NSW Environment Protection Authority spokeswoman
By way of comparison, Dubbo has seen 12,195,657 items fed into its two RVM, while Bathurst residents deposited 9,570,302 items in the city’s four collection points, which includes a bulky depot.
Among other centres in the region 5,219,569 items were accepted at Young’s three machines, followed by Cowra (4,291,099), Parkes (3,770,053), Lithgow (3,481,092), Wellington (2,897,545), Mudgee (1,019,559) and Forbes (440,805).
All told, there are 31 return points across the Central West which generated almost $5 million in returns to residents in the last 12 months.
A NSW Environment Protection Authority spokeswoman praised Central West residents for the number of returns.
“The scheme has been very well embraced by communities,” he said.
With summer and the Christmas/New Year holiday season fast approaching, the EPA spokeswoman said an increase in average return volumes was anticipated.
“We encourage people to plan ahead for their Return and Earn experience and check the website for details of return points nearest to them including whether reverse vending machines are nearing capacity,” she said.
“Weekends are popular return days so it’s best to go during the week if possible.”
The EPA spokeswoman said possible RVM closures were anticipated over the festive period, however, the dates were still being finalised.
“Last year the RVM network was closed on Christmas Day and reopened on Boxing Day and we expect it to be the same this year, but people should check the Return and Earn website (www.returnandearn.org.au) for updates,” she said.
“Over-the-counter and automated depot trading hours over this period are determined by each individual business.”
HOW THE RETURN AND SCHEME WORKS
THE container deposit scheme rewards consumers for returning containers, cans and bottles to designated recycling points with a 10 cent refund per eligible container. Check out the video.
The refund can be:
- Disbursed electronically to the consumer
- Donated to charity
- An in-store credit or cash redemption voucher from selected partners
Collected containers will be processed through a counting and sorting centre in Western Sydney.
They will then be recycled and sold into both domestic and export markets. Recovering these resources will create a closed loop, making a sustainable future possible.
WHAT’S ACCEPTED BY THE MACHNES?
The majority of containers covered under this scheme are beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to 3 litres. Containers can be made from:
- Aluminium
- Glass
- HDPE
- Liquid paperboard
- PET
- Steel
WHAT’S NOT ACCEPTED BY THE MACHINES?
Containers that are not included in the Scheme and, therefore, do not qualify for a refund are:
- Plain milk or milk substitute containers
- Flavoured milk containers of one litre or more
- Pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of one litre or more
- Glass containers for wine and spirits
- Casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water of one litre or more
- Sachets for wine of 250 millilitres or more
- Containers for cordials, or concentrated fruit and vegetable juices
- Registered health tonics
These exceptions are like those in the South Australian and Northern Territory container deposit schemes, to aid consistency.
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