Lake Macquarie residents have access to an additional container recycling option with the opening of a new Return and Earn machine at Woodrising Shopping Centre, according to information released by Return and Earn.
The machine, located at 84 Hayden Brooke Road, Woodrising, is the 17th return point in the Lake Macquarie local government area.
It is open daily from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm and allows residents to return eligible bottles, cans and cartons in exchange for the 10-cent refund available under the New South Wales container deposit scheme.
Return and Earn said the new return point reflects ongoing participation in the scheme across the region.
“Lake Macquarie residents are enthusiastic recyclers, having returned over 496 million eligible bottles, cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began,” said James Dorney, chief executive officer of TOMRA Cleanaway, the network operator for Return and Earn.
Dorney also pointed to broader participation across the state, noting that more than 14.7 billion drink containers have been returned through more than 660 return points across New South Wales since the scheme commenced.
He said this has resulted in more than $1.4 billion in refunds being paid to participants.
The Woodrising machine uses ‘takes-all’ technology, allowing eligible glass, plastic and aluminium drink containers to be returned through either chute without pre-sorting.
Users can choose to print a voucher, which can be redeemed at Vicsfresh IGA Woodrising for cash or a shopping discount, or receive their refund directly into a bank or PayPal account via the Return and Earn app.
Return and Earn said users also have the option to donate their refunds to one of more than 400 registered donation partners through the app.
These include Little Wings, which provides free transport to specialist hospitals such as John Hunter Hospital for seriously ill children from regional and remote areas of New South Wales.
Refunds can also be donated to the current statewide donation partner, Jeans for Genes, which supports research into treatments and cures for children’s genetic conditions.
According to Return and Earn, the scheme has become a fundraising avenue for charities and community groups, with more than $82 million raised through donations and hosting fees since its launch in 2017.
Further information about the scheme is available on the Return and Earn website.
