Container recycling at major NSW events nets $30K for Aboriginal charity

A bold partnership between sustainable waste management company Clean Vibes and leading Aboriginal not-for-profit KARI Foundation has resulted in over $30,000 raised for the charity through container recycling at major NSW events and festivals.

The containers have been collected across NSW’s entertainment venues and festivals by Clean Vibes, the dedicated sustainable waste management company that owns and operates City Return and Earn automated depot, a bulk container return point for the NSW container deposit scheme, Return and Earn.

Launched in April last year, City Return and Earn and the partnership between Clean Vibes and the KARI Foundation has seen employment opportunities provided to KARI community members, including at the City Return and Earn depot and through Clean Vibes event management activities.

Casey Ralph, CEO of the KARI Foundation said the organisation was thrilled at the sizable donation from City Return and Earn, “We are deeply grateful to Clean Vibes for its incredible donation,” said Casey.

“This donation will help us in our mission to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and provide them with the necessary resources to thrive.”

“At KARI Foundation, we understand that when we empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, we empower entire communities. This generous donation from Clean Vibes will allow us to continue our critical work and make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.” Casey Ralph KARI Foundation CEO

Ms Ralph said partnerships with organisations like Clean Vibes are crucial to the organisations ability to make a positive impact in the Aboriginal community, “We look forward to continuing to work together to create a brighter future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.”

Clean Vibes owner, Andrew Macarthur, said the automated depot enables larger volumes of containers collected at the events to be sorted and processed, ready to be sold to recyclers.

“We are a sustainable event cleaning and waste management business, and being able to provide a clean stream of recyclable materials to be made into new bottles and cans and other packaging products is completely aligned with our core values,” said Andrew.

“By partnering with KARI we are also making a positive impact on people’s lives by providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. We are so proud to be able to hand over the funds raised from these events to KARI.”

Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, coordinator of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme, highlighted that City Return and Earn is one of 600+ return points in NSW, with over 9 billion containers returned through the network since the scheme started in December 2017.

“Fundraising through Return and Earn has proved to be remarkably effective for charities and community groups across the State, and it has the added benefit of helping the environment,” said Ms Smalley.

James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator for Return and Earn added that more than $42 million has been returned to charities and community groups via donations and hosting fees since the scheme commenced.

“This automated depot and partnership shows how triple bottom line gains can be achieved through the NSW container deposit scheme.”

Return and Earn is a partnership between the NSW Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.