DID you know that Scone is now one of two towns in the Upper Hunter home to a container deposit scheme?
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Called ‘Return and Earn’ – it will be officially launched on Friday December 1 and is the largest litter reduction scheme ever introduced in the state.
A Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) kiosk has been installed at the Scone Woolworths carpark at 35 Main Street ahead of the scheme’s commencement.
The arrangement with Woolworths aims to provide up to 180 collection points in metro and regional areas of NSW and will see consumers receive a 10 cent refund for returning eligible beverage containers for recycling.
Consumers will be able to choose to donate their refund directly to selected charities or receive the refund via electronic payment to their registered account.
They can also use a credit voucher issued by the RVM towards their shopping at Woolworths or simply redeem for cash in Woolworths supermarkets across NSW.
Containers returned to the RVMs are collected by Cleanaway and processed through a sorting centre in Western Sydney.
The containers are then sold into both domestic and export markets for reprocessing.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Chair and CEO Barry Buffier said Return and Earn will have a significant environmental impact, and will be easy and convenient for the community to use.
“Return and Earn will make a major contribution to helping us achieve the Premier’s Priority of reducing litter volume by 40 per cent by 2020,” Mr Buffier said.
“It will also provide people with a financial incentive to do the right thing and recycle, to significantly reduce the estimated 160 million drink containers littered every year,” he said.
The Upper Hunter Shire Sustainability Advisory Committe chair Sue Abbott said it was a really exciting step for Scone.
“It’s excellent that Scone is one of the few locations in the area to introduce the scheme,” Sue Abbott said.
“It’s really exciting and something we [The Upper Hunter Shire Sustainability Advisory Committe] have been working towards.
“Singleton Heights will also have a deposit kiosk open on Friday.
“Drink containers eligible for the 10-cent refund include most containers such as glass, plastic and aluminium.”
Eligible containers must be between 150ml and three litres.
Containers should not be crushed or broken and should have the original label attached to be eligible for the refund.
For more information, visit: www.returnandearn.org.au and www.tcnsw.com.au.