How much NSW residents have been refunded through their trash

Not only have bottles, cans and drink cartons been returned and recycled but residents have gotten money back in their pockets.

NSW environment minister James Griffin said more than $800 million in refunds has been put back in people’s wallets.

“Return and Earn has fundamentally shifted people’s behaviour, turning what was once seen as waste into a now-valuable resource for the recycling industry, and delivering huge refunds to the community,” Griffin said.

“This is a huge win for our environment, with all plastic containers and glass bottles returned being given a new life and turned back into new food and drink containers to go back on our supermarket shelves within weeks.

“Heading down to the local Return and Earn point has become a routine part of life, and I’d like to thank the almost 80 per cent of adults in NSW who have got involved.”

Twelve-year-old Cooper Birtles is a keen return and earn contributor and is using the program to save for his first car.

”I love seeing the cans and bottles being recycled instead of being chucked away in the rubbish. It’s a great feeling to know that I am doing something good,” Birtles said.

Birtles is also using the money he gets back to donate to NSW flood-affected victims.

The program has also contributed more than $35 million in donations to charities, like St Vincent de Paul Society, over the past five years.

“Vinnies has seven Return and Earn depots across NSW where we currently employ over 30 people and last financial year our sites processed 95 million containers,” Acting CEO Yolanda Saiz said.

“This helped raise critical funds for the Society that help us provide services to people experiencing poverty and disadvantage.”