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Impact Calculator
How do we calculate?
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How do we calculate?

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How we calculate

Calculations for the Impact Calculator are based on findings of a lifecycle analysis (LCA) of drink containers returned at Return and Earn return points across NSW. The LCA was conducted by Grant, T., and Berenyi T, (2021), Lifecycles Australia, with the final report provided on 11 October, 2021.

The full report can be viewed here The LCA has been peer reviewed by an independent practitioner (Kyle O’Farrell, Envisage Works, 7 October 2021) as stated in ISO 14044 Clauses 6.1 and 6.2. The review has been performed to provide assurance of the credibility of the LCA and its results.

Data sources

Did you know people recycle an average of 75 containers per trip? (Average is for machines only. Source: Network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway)

It takes less water to make a new container from recycled plastic or glass than it does from new materials. (Source: Lifecycles Australia, 2021)

Making glass from recycled materials requires only 40% of the energy needed to make glass from new materials. (Source: Cleanaway https://cleanaway2stor.blob.core.windows.net/cleanaway2-blob-container/2020/06/Glass.pdf)

By recycling through Return and Earn, your bottles and cans can be recycled and back on the shelf as a new container in as little as 4-8 weeks. (Source: Logistics provider, Cleanaway - https://bit.ly/3Cn3Dal)

Community impact numbers are calculated by projecting NSW households participating in the scheme.

Number for NSW based on total private dwellings (3,059,599) from the 2016 ABS Census data. (Source: https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1?opendocument)

Number for Community (32,899) based on an average of total NSW private dwellings (3,059.599) ÷ total NSW electoral districts 2019 (93) (Source: https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1?opendocument Source: https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/redistribution/About-redistribution/Overview)

Garbage truck capacity is based on an Australian rear lift truck with a payload capacity of 9.5 tonnes (Source: https://waster.com.au/australian-garbage-trucks/)

Size of standard Olympic swimming pool (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic-size_swimming_pool)

Household annual energy consumption (Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/energy/energy-account-australia/latest-release#:~:text=In%202019%2D20%20energy%20use,%25%20to%201%2C515%20GJ%2F%20%24mGVA)

Number of passenger vehicles in NSW (Source: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/tourism-and-transport/survey-motor-vehicle-use-australia/latest-release)

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Snowy Valleys
Our recycling is having a positive impact!
The residents of Snowy Valleys have recycled containers which is equivalent to

Water savings

<1

Olympic swimming pools filled

Energy savings

0

years of households' energy consumption

Landfill savings

0

trash trucks

Carbon emissions
avoided

0

cars off the road for a year
cloud
Snowy Valleys
Our recycling is having a positive impact!
The residents of Snowy Valleys have recycled containers which is equivalent to

Water savings

<1

Olympic swimming
pools filled

Energy savings

0

years of households' energy consumption

Landfill savings

0

trash trucks

Carbon emissions
avoided

0

cars off the road for a year
cloud
>Snowy Valleys
Our recycling is having a positive impact!
The residents of Snowy Valleys have recycled containers which is equivalent to

Water savings

<1

Olympic swimming
pools filled

Energy savings

0

years of households'
energy consumption

Landfill savings

0

trash trucks

Carbon emissions
avoided

0

cars off the road for a
year