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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
Media release
5 Jun 2019

Champion Lions win Environmental Citizen award

Gulargambone Lions Club has been announced as the winner of the first-ever 2019 NSW Environmental Citizen of the Year Award for their outstanding work in helping the environment and their community.

Read more
Community
13 May 2019

$5000 prizes for Return and Earn sustainability champions

Sustainability champions who have worked to reduce litter and encourage recycling through the NSW Return and Earn scheme could win one of two new $5,000 prizes in the 2019 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities and Sustainable Communities – Tidy Towns Awards.

Read more
Media release
15 Apr 2019

Return and Earn network closed on Good Friday

Be sure to plan ahead for your Return and Earn trips this Easter: the Return and Earn network will be closed on Good Friday, April 19 for the public holiday, while Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are set to be very busy days on the network.

Read more
Read more news
NSW you’ve returned 1,973,222,954 drink containers so far!
1,973,222,954 containers returned
That’s equal to 163.2 return trips between Sydney and Melbourne!
That’s equal to 163.2 return trips between Sydney and Melbourne!
That’s equal to 8.0 trips around the coastline of Australia!
That’s equal to 8.0 trips around the coastline of Australia!
That’s equal to about 75% of a trip to the moon!
That’s equal to about 75% 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.