Return and Earn is a container deposit scheme and the largest litter reduction initiative in NSW. It is a NSW Government initiative funded by contributions from the beverage industry. It offers a 10c refund to consumers for depositing eligible drink containers at return points across NSW.
Since launching on 1 December 2017, the scheme has collected over 12 billion containers through its 600+ return points and has helped reduce the volume of eligible drink container litter across the state.
Collect eligible containers and take them to a return point to earn 10c per container. This refund can be received in the form of a retail voucher, electronic refund to a bank or PayPal account, or you can donate your refund to a donation partner (Return and Earn 2024).
Most empty 150-millilitre to three litres containers are eligible for a 10 cent refund when presented to an approved NSW collection point. Container materials that may be eligible for a refund include:
- Aluminum Cans (soft drink)
- Bottles (e.g: glass beer bottles, plastic bottles)
- Cartons
- Juice boxes or poppers
Look for the 10c label on the container to see if it is eligible for a refund. Containers must be:
- in good condition (not be crushed or broken)
- empty
- Have the label attached
Remember to leave the lids on when returning your containers. They'll be recycled too.
Containers that are not included in the scheme and, therefore, do not qualify for a refund are:
- plain milk bottles (or milk substitute) bottles or cartons
- flavoured milk containers of one litre or more
- pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of one litre or more
- glass wine and spirsit bottles
- cordial bottles
Return and Earn can be used by individuals or donation partners.
A Donation Partner is a not-for-profit organisation such as a charity, school, sports club or community organisation that has entered into an agreement with the Network Operator TOMRA to be listed on the Reverse Vending Machines.
Refunds from eligible containers can be donated to Donation Partners by anybody who chooses to do so. Simply select the donation option when using a Reverse Vending Machine.
To learn more about participating visit https://returnandearn.org.au
To find a Return and Earn return point near you visit https://returnandearn.org.au/return-points/ and enter your location. A list of return points will appear.
Find out more about the Return and Earn program via https://returnandearn.org.au/