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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 Machine

Reverse Vending Machines

Person using a reverse vending machine
  • Self service
  • Automatically scans your containers
  • Accepts up to 500 containers in any one transaction
  • Offers a variety of refund choices
  • Fun to use (for the kids)
  • Check machine status/availability before you go
Learn more
Automated Deports

Automated
Depots

Person returning at a Automated Depot
  • Staffed bulk container return centre
  • Most convenient way to return larger quantities, 500+
  • Provides cash refunds and electronic transfers
  • Put your containers in the machine and it counts them for you
Learn more
Over the Counter Sites

Over the
Counter sites

Person returning at an Over the Counter site
  • Participating local businesses where you can return containers over the counter
  • Better for smaller quantities (usually less than 100)
  • Provides cash refunds
  • Great for supporting local businesses
Learn more
Donation Stations

Donation
Stations

Person returning at a Donation Station
  • Is a self service Reverse Vending Machine
  • Let you donate only and doesn’t offer a refund
Learn more

What's happening around me?

Read our media releases and get the latest news from our community
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
Return points
9 Nov 2018

Vinnies and Return and Earn - The journey from donation partner to new enterprise

Vinnies ventures on a new journey with Return and Earn from a donation partner to new enterprise, with the launch of the fourth Automated Depot in NSW in Penrith.

Read more
Read more news

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.