Collect, fundraise or donate. Return and Earn makes it convenient and easy for you to support the charities or causes you care about – all while keeping the environment clean and recycling bottles and cans. There are hundreds of official donation partners you can support by donating your container refund. Read on to find out how to donate and learn more about our wonderful donation partners.

Major donation partner

A little donation goes a long way - Little Wings donation appeal

Little Wings

Little Wings provides transport in the air and on the ground, connecting seriously ill country kids and their families to life-saving treatments in the city. They aim to ease the journey and help sick and injured children access specialised medical services that are only available in larger towns and cities. Little Wings stays in the air and on the move thanks to a team of volunteer pilots and drivers and they need your support.

From 22 April until 20 October, you can donate the refunds from your 10c drink containers to Little Wings. Together, we are aiming to raise $100,000 to help support sick children and their families by minimising the physical, emotional and financial strain of receiving lifesaving medical treatment.

How to donate through Return and Earn

RETURN AND EARN APP

You can select to donate your 10c refund to any charity, school, sports club or local community group featured on the app from any machines or automated depot (using Tag and Drop) in NSW. Simply:

  1. Open your Return and Earn app AND search for your favourite charity under the “CHARITIES” menu
  2. Press on its tile, scroll down and select ‘Set as payout’
  3. Scan your app at your local Return and Earn machine or automated depot (using Tag and Drop)
  4. Return your containers and press “TRANSFER” on the machine screen or follow the steps on the Tag and Drop screen at an automated depot.

100% of the refund will be donated to the donation partner that you selected to receive your payout.

Download the app

RETURN AND EARN MACHINES

You can support our major donation partner by donating directly on the screens of your machines. Simply:

  1. Return your drink containers
  2. Press “DONATE” on the touchscreen to our major charity partner
  3. Press “CONFIRM” to validate your donation. 100% of your refund will be donated to charity.

RETURN AND EARN MACHINES

You can donate to the charities featured on the screen at any machine by:

  1. Return your containers
  2. Select your preferred donation partner on the touchscreen.
  3. Click ‘Donate’.

Their account will be automatically credited with the full amount.

Find your nearest machine

AUTOMATED DEPOTS

Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

You can also donate through the app if you use Tag and Drop. 

AUTOMATED DEPOTS

Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

Find your nearest depot

Check out some of our most active donation partners

Here’s just a snapshot of the types of causes you can support and fundraising campaigns you can donate to.

So open your Return and Earn app today and select to donate to your preferred cause or to the charity, school, sports club or local community group you have a connection with.

Greyhound Rescue logo

Greyhound Rescue

Help our Injured Greyhounds

Greyhound Rescue is a charity rehoming greyhounds no longer wanted by the racing industry. We aim to provide best practice in the care and rehabilitation of greyhounds. We ethically rescue, lovingly rehabilitate, and safely rehome greyhounds; giving them a voice through advocacy and education.

Hunter Valley Animal Facility & Rehoming Centre

Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre in the Hunter Valley

Every year hundreds of thousands of our companion animals are abandoned in Australia. Whilst we can’t save them all we CAN commit to helping to save the thousands of cats and dogs surrendered to council pounds. A high percentage of these abandoned animals never get the chance at a second happy after. The team at Hunter Valley Animal Facility & Rehoming Centre combine over 15 years of rescue knowledge, commitment and passion.

Kincumer Bensville Sea Scouts logo

Kincumber Bensville Sea Scouts

Australian Jamboree 2025

Scouting is a fantastic way for young people to develop friendships and lifelong skills. Our scouts have their eyes set on the Australian Jamboree 2025 in Maryborough, Queensland. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our young adventurers and every donation to help them achieve this dream is very much appreciated. 

Lakes Grammar Anglican logo

Lakes Grammar

Lakes Grammar VietCAN

As part of the upcoming Vietnam school tour in 2024, we will be running a 10c return and earn fundraiser for a local Vietnamese school for disadvantaged and a local orphanage in Hue. This provides resources and essentials for local Vietnamese children.

Mountains Anglican Refugee Support - Lower Mountains

Support a refugee

Mountains Anglican Refugee Support-Lower Mountains is joining the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) to settle a refugee household well into our Lower Blue Mountains community. Your donation will support us to provide our refugees with temporary accommodation and transport, basic household goods, a pantry, essential clothing, hygiene products, and meeting other short-term needs as they arise.

Wagga Wagga Water Polo Inc logo

Wagga Wagga Water Polo

Wagga Wagga Water Polo Sport Development

Wagga Wagga Water Polo is raising funds for the development of the sport in Wagga Wagga. Funds will be used for purposes such as junior development programs, purchasing equipment, infrastructure, and helping to cover costs associated with representative teams.

Find and choose who you want to donate to on the app

An unlimited number of charities, schools, sports club and community groups can be featured on the Return and Earn app. To view the full list and how much your preferred organisation has raised so far, simply open your Return and Earn app, press “Charities” and search for your preferred donation partner. 

Download app

Can’t find your charity?

If your favourite charity, school, sports club or community group isn’t listed as a donation partner, why not let them know they could be raising funds with the Return and Earn scheme?

Interested in fundraising?

Click below to find out how your charity, school, P&C, sports club or community group can start fundraising with Return and Earn.

Fundraise with us

Major appeals and charity campaigns (2019 – 2024)

RFS benevolent Fund

RFS Benevolent Fund

$95,443 donated

Youth Off The Streets

$120,000 donated

Protect Our Planet

$158,000 donated

Animal Welfare League NSW

$94,000 donated

Containers for Kids

$122,540 donated

Bottles for the Bush Poster image

Bottles for the Bush

$423,519 donated

Cans for Koalas

$144,515 donated

Bottles CAN Change Lives

$244,383 donated

Donation success stories

Return and Earn teams up with Little Wings to support seriously ill kids

Return and Earn teams up with Little Wings to support seriously ill kids

Read More
RFS Benevolent Fund

RFS Benevolent Fund giving back to firefighters and families

Read More

Return and Earn exceeds fundraising target for Youth Off The Streets

Read More

Coolamon Lions Club and Junee Correctional Centre join forces to recycle and fund local organisations

Read More
More stories

Donations FAQs

  • Where can I donate?

    You can donate the 10c refund for each eligible container returned at any Return and Earn machine and at select automated depots in NSW. Find your closest return point on the map.

  • How do I donate to local charities and fundraising appeals through Return and Earn?

    There are hundreds of charities and fundraising appeals listed on the Return and Earn app. You can donate your refunds to them when you recycle using the app at all Return and Earn machine or any participation Return and Earn depots that offer the Tag and Drop bag-drop service.  

    Download the Return and Earn app today. 

  • What is a donation partner?

    A donation partner is a not-for-profit organisation that has been approved to be featured either on the touch screen or on the app to receive donations from the Return and Earn community.

    Types of organisations that are listed as donation partners include charities, schools, sporting clubs, community and special interest clubs and groups. Political causes or organisations are not permitted to become donation partners.

  • Do I have to use a machine to donate?

    You need to return your containers at a Return and Earn machine in order to donate either on the touchscreen or through the app.

    Some automated depots also support charities and allow you to donate your refunds directly. Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

    Or you can donate through the Return and Earn app through Tag and Drop.

    Find your nearest automated depot and their contact details on the map.

  • Do I need to use the Return and Earn app to donate?

    No but the app features many donation partners and causes you can choose from.   

    You can also donate your refunds to the major donation partner featured on the touchscreen of your closest Return and Earn machine. 

    Simply return your containers and when you’re done, select ‘donate’ on the screen. Or visit your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.  

  • I want to donate to a charity or cause who are not listed as a donation partner. What do I do?

    You can get in touch with the charity, not-for-profit organisation, school, sports club or community group that you’d like to donate to and suggest they sign up! For more information, visit TOMRA’s website here.

  • How much money goes to my chosen donation partner?

    100% of the donated refund goes to your chosen donation partner.

  • How do I change my default payout method on the app?

    In the middle of the home screen, you will see “Your active payout” which will either state “PayPal”, “Digital Voucher” or a campaign name. By clicking on this white box, you will open up a list of all payout methods available. Here you can select your default payout for all future payments until this is changed.

  • Can I get a tax receipt for my donation?

    You can receive a tax receipt for donations if the charity you donate to has obtained the Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Tax Office.

    You can donate directly on the touch screen to support our selected major donation partner at any Return and Earn machine.  Our major donation partner has DGR status, so if you donate $2 or more, the machine will issue a tax receipt.

    If you donate through the Return and Earn app at any machine or depot, you can obtain a receipt of all the donations made to charities with DGR status.

  • Can I keep track of my donations?

    You can keep track of the donations you have made on the Return and Earn app.

    To access your records, open the app and click on ‘Charities’. Go to the ‘My Donations’ tab on the left-hand side to view a summary of all donations made through the app.

    Scroll down to see each individual campaign you’ve donated to and how much you’ve contributed to each one of them.

    To view your whole recycling history using the app, click ‘Refunds’ on your homepage and you will be able to view all of your donations and other types of refunds that  you received via the app.

  • How do I apply to get my organisation or fundraising appeal listed as a donation partner on the Return and Earn app?

    To register your charity, community group or not-for-profit click HERE and do not hesitate to contact our team at donations.nsw@tomra.com should you have any queries.  

    You can also see the “charity” app feature in action by downloading the FREE Return and Earn app here. 

  • Why do I only see one charity on the screen at a machine?

    Every six months, Return and Earn runs a state-wide donations appeal in partnership with a not-for-profit organisation. The donation option on screens at Return and Earn machines is reserved for promoting this appeal to encourage incidental donations when people are recycling.  

    Unlike the screens, the Return and Earn app can host an unlimited number of charities and fundraising appeals, offering recyclers more choice in who they donate their refunds to.  

  • What are the benefits of being listed on the Return and Earn App as a donation partner?
    • Receive donations from supporters across NSW. 
    • Put your cause in front of hundreds of thousands of active Return and Earn app users and potential donors. 
    • Receive weekly donations reports directly to your inbox and automated payments.  
    • Access the user-friendly charity online platform for easy on-boarding process to get your campaign listed quickly on the Return and Earn app. 
    • Enjoy control and flexibility over managing your campaign, including for messaging and duration.  
    • Review and update your details at any time. 
    • Renew your campaign indefinitely. 

    Access the user-friendly online platform to review and update your campaign at any time, along with automated weekly reports and payments.