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Let’s reduce litter in NSW.

More than 160 million drink containers litter the streets, beaches, waterways and parks of NSW every year.

Help clean up the bottles, cans and cartons in your neighbourhood.

Raise money for your local school, sports club, charity or community group.

Search for a return point by suburb or postcode
Earnie the mascot holding coin and eligible container

How does Return and Earn work?

Collect, return, earn and connect in four easy steps
  • Process Flow Step 1

    1. Collect eligible bottles and cans.

     

  • Process Flow Step 2

    2. Take your containers to a return point.

  • Process Flow Step 3

    3. Earn a refund or make a donation.

  • Process Flow Step 4

    4. Connect with your community.

Find out more

Return point types

Below is a snapshot of the different types of return points
Reverse Vending Machines

Reverse Vending Machines

Reverse Vending Machines
  • Are self service
  • Accept up to 500 containers in any one transaction
  • Insert container into correct chute for barcode scanning
  • Issue a variety of refund types: electronic transfers, vouchers and charitable donations
  • TIP: Separate containers by material type before you go

Learn more about returning at Reverse Vending Machines

Over the Counter Sites

Over the Counter Sites

Over the Counter Sites
  • Are local businesses and shops
  • Are good for returning smaller quantities of containers, less than 100
  • Issue cash refunds and electronic payments
  • A great way to support local businesses

Learn more about returning at Over the Counter sites

Automated Depots

Automated Depots

Automated Depots
  • Staffed return and centres
  • Are the best option for returning larger quantities, but will accept any return amount
  • Pass your containers to a service assistant for automated counting
  • Issue cash refunds and provide electronic transfers

Learn more about returning at Automated Depots

Donation Stations

Donation Stations

Donation Stations
  • Are self service machines
  • You’ll find them at at some railway stations, Service NSW offices and Taronga Zoo
  • Accept plastics, cartons and cans only 
  • Simply choose a preferred charity to donate to and insert your eligible containers into the return chute
  • Your refund can only be donated to charity

Learn more about returning at Donation Stations

What's happening around me?

Read our media releases and get the latest news from our community
Community
15 Mar 2019

Return and Earners rocket to 1.5 billion containers

Enthusiastic Return and Earners have reached a new milestone, rocketing to 1.5 billion containers returned across NSW just three months on from reaching the 1 billion mark.

Read more
Media release
5 Dec 2018

A billion reasons to celebrate

Return and Earn achieves one billion containers returned through the scheme in the first year. This is a huge achievement for NSW who chose to Return and Earn or return and donate.

Read more
Community
15 Nov 2018

Recycle responsibly through your local Reverse Vending Machine

For recycling week, we are simplifying the experience of recycling through a reverse vending machine, through collect, check, return and remove.

Read more
Read more news
NSW you’ve returned 1,569,606,205 drink containers so far!
1,569,606,205 containers returned
That’s equal to 129.8 return trips between Sydney and Melbourne!
That’s equal to 129.8 return trips between Sydney and Melbourne!
That’s equal to 6.4 trips around the coastline of Australia!
That’s equal to 6.4 trips around the coastline of Australia!
That’s equal to about 60% of a trip to the moon!
That’s equal to about 60% of a trip to the moon!
Keep it up NSW Keep it up NSW
Disclaimer: Counter updated daily. Average container size approximately 146mm as calculated by Tomra Cleanaway. Sydney/Melbourne driving distance via M31 is approximately 878km each way (source). Calculated mainland coastline length of Australia 35,877km (source). Calculated distance to moon 384,400km (source).
Disclaimer: Counter updated daily. Average container size approximately 146mm as calculated by Tomra Cleanaway. Sydney/Melbourne driving distance via M31 is approximately 878km each way (source).
Disclaimer: Counter updated daily. Average container size approximately 146mm as calculated by Tomra Cleanaway. Calculated mainland coastline length of Australia 35,877km (source).
Disclaimer: Counter updated daily. Average container size approximately 146mm as calculated by Tomra Cleanaway. Calculated distance to moon 384,400km (source).

Community

As well as improving the environment, Return and Earn can also help support community groups and charities. Click on the links below to find out how to participate.

Partners

We already have over 600 Return and Earn return points across NSW and are always looking to add more. Find out more about the different types of return points and how you can apply to host a return point.