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Home - Return and earn Logo and NSW Government logo
Available in: العربية| 简体中文| Tiếng Việt | 繁體中文
Help feed families in need
Return and Earn has partnered with Foodbank NSW & ACT, aiming to raise $250,000 and create 500,000 meals to help feed families in need.
Find out more
12 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned
Celebrating 12 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned through the network since the scheme began, resulting in $1.2 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets.
Learn more
Find your nearest return point
Check the map for directions, opening hours and
live status updates for all return points
View map
Returning truckloads of drink containers?
Calculate the positive environmental
impact of your recycling
Calculate now
Download the Return and Earn app
Get your refunds quicker and easier
Download Now
Check which containers are good to go
Check the label for 10c refund mark to see if it can be returned for a 10c refund
Learn more
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12 billion bottles, cans and cartons returned
Find your nearest return point
Check the map for directions, opening hours and live status updates for all return points
Returning truckloads of drink containers?
Calculate the positive environmental impact of your recycling
Download the Return and Earn app
Get your refunds quicker and easier
Check which containers are good to go
Check the label for 10c refund mark to see if it can be returned for a 10c refund
Help feed families in need
Return and Earn has partnered with Foodbank NSW & ACT, aiming to raise $250,000 and create 500,000 meals to help feed families in need.
Find out more
Previous slide
Next slide

We have updated our privacy policy. You can view it here. 

We have updated our privacy policy. You can view it here.

Well done NSW!

Billions of containers are returned through Return and Earn in NSW every year. By recycling bottles, cans and cartons, you’re helping our environment and earning along the way, putting money back into the hands of the community.

Return and Earn is the rewarding way to recycle your drink containers. Every container returned makes an impact.

12,513,076,684

drink containers returned so far via return point network

656

return points available

93%

support

84%

participation

83%

satisfaction

3.4 billion

containers returned so far via kerbside collections

1,077,338

tonnes of materials recycled to date

68%

12-month rolling redemption rate

73%

reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels

$62.59 million

returned to charities and community groups via donations and fees to date
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-12-1.png

12,513,076,684

Drink containers returned so far via return point network
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-13.png

656

Return points available
image-04-nsw-adults-support.png

90%

Support
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration.png

83%

Participation
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-14.png

80%

Satisfaction
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-19.png

3.34 billion

containers returned so far via kerbside collection
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-16.png

1,044,179

tonnes of materials recycled to date
Return-and-Earn_hp_illustration-15.png

68%

12-month rolling redemption rate
Image_new-tile.png

54% reduction

reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels
image-10-returned-to-charities.png

$54 million

returned to charities and community groups via donations and fees to date
Calculate your recycling impact
Find a return point
Download Return and Earn app

Latest news

Donation Partner
foodbank appeal
Latest news
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Executives from Foodbank, Exchange for Change, Little Wings and TOMRA Cleanaway at launch, Return and Earn machine site, Eastern Creek

Return and Earn teams up with Foodbank NSW & ACT to support families in need

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New Return and Earn machine now open in Telopea

New Return and Earn machine now open in Telopea

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12 billion drink containers recycled through Return and Earn

12 billion drink containers recycled through Return and Earn

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Recycling to convert books to braille

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Return and Earn recycling scheme refunds pay for Dubbo couple’s dream wedding

Read More

How does Return and Earn work?

Step One - Collect eligible containers
Collect eligible containers

Find out which containers can be returned through Return and Earn for 10 cents each.

Check container eligibility
Step Two - Take containers to return point
Take containers to a return point

There are different types of return points available. Find the one nearest or most convenient for you.

Find a return point
Step Three - get your refund or donate.
Get your refund or donate

Every eligible container is worth 10c. You can keep the refund or donate it to a worthy cause.

Find out more
Find out more

Get to know the return points

Compare and choose the right return point for you
View return points near you
More about return points
image of a reverse vending machine

Reverse Vending Machines

Self-service, convenient locations and ideal for up to 500 containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Bank Transfer*
  • PayPal*
  • Voucher
  • Yes
*Available via Return and Earn App
image of an automated depot with staff sorting containers

Automated Depot

Staffed and offers additional services. Ideal for any no. of containers

Refund types

Donations

  • EFT
  • Cash
  • Enquire
image of an over the counter type return point

Over the counter

Staffed and good for cash-in-hand refunds. Ideal for < 100 containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Cash
  • Enquire
image of reverse vending centre

Reverse Vending Centre

Self service with multiple machines Ideal for any no. of containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Bank Transfer*
  • PayPal*
  • Voucher
  • Yes
*Available via Return and Earn App
image of donation station

Donation Station

Self service and donations only. Ideal for on-the-go returns*

Refund types

Donations

  • N/A
  • Yes
*Donation stations cannot take glass

Get to know the return points

Understand how the different return points work

Reverse Vending Machines

Self-service, convenient locations and ideal for up to 500 containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Bank Transfer*
  • Cash Voucher
  • PayPal*
  • Yes
*Available via the Return and Earn App

Automated Depot

Staffed and offers additional services. Ideal for any no. of containers

Refund types

Donations

  • EFT
  • Cash
  • Enquire

Over the counter

Staffed and good for cash-in-hand refunds. Ideal for < 100 containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Cash
  • Enquire

Donation Station

Self service and donations only. Ideal for on-the-go returns*

Refund types

Donations

  • N/A
  • Yes
*Donation stations cannot take glass

Reverse Vending Centre

Self service with multiple machines Ideal for any no. of containers

Refund types

Donations

  • Bank Transfer*
  • PayPal*
  • Voucher
  • Yes
*Available via Return and Earn App
View return points near you
More about return points

Stay in the know with Return and Earn

Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news.

#ReturnandEarn

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1800 290 691

Send us feedback

Exchange for Change. PO Box 3414 Rhodes NSW 2138. ABN 12 620 512 469
Find a return point by suburb or postcode
Find a return point by suburb or postcode
Find a return point by suburb or postcode
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Home - Return and earn Logo and NSW Government logo
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  • Call us
1800 290 691
Send us feedback
Support for the scheme

This rate represents the percentage of NSW adults who support the Return and Earn scheme. 

Source: Verian consumer research results (June 2024)

Total participation

This rate represents the percentage of NSW adults who have participated in Return and Earn

Source: Verian consumer research results (June 2024)

Satisfaction among scheme participants

This rate represents the percentage of participants that are satisfied with the scheme. 

Source: Verian consumer research results (June 2024)

Containers returned via kerbside collection

Material recovery facility (MRF) operators are able to claim a refund for any eligible containers collected via kerbside recycling provided they have a share agreement in place with their relevant council. MRF operators can only make a claim at the end of each quarter therefore this figure is updated once their claim has been reviewed and processed, up to two months post end of the quarter.

Tonnes of materials recycled

Tonnage is calculated based on state-wide averages of the number of eligible containers in each kilogram of a material type called eligible container factors. The factors are calculated quarterly and published by the NSW EPA. The network operator is contractually obliged to deliver all material for reuse or recycling. 

Figure as at September 2024.

Containers redeemed (network + kerbside)​

The redemption rate is the percentage of eligible containers supplied into NSW which have been redeemed through the scheme, either via a return point or through kerbside collection. This figure is updated quarterly.

Figure July 2023 – June 2024.

Key Littered Items Study (KLIS) - Litter Reduction

Results based on the KLIS. Percentage represents the reduction of eligible CDS beverage container litter (items).

Source: EPA CDS beverage container litter – 2022–23 CDS litter

Returned to charities and community groups since the scheme was introduced in December 2017

Total amount returned to charities and community groups via donations at return points and fees for hosting return points as at June 2024. This figure does not include informal fundraising activities by community groups. 

Source: Network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway

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