Return and Earn hits the million mark at Bondi Beach

07 February 2019 | Council News

7 February 2019

Consumers have cashed in more than one million drink containers at the Bondi Beach reverse vending machine (RVM) since it opened in June 2018. The one-millionth container was deposited in late December*, 2018.

Leslie Reid, Sustainable Communities Officer, Waverley Council, said it was an incredible response to the NSW container deposit scheme Return and Earn, which aims to reduce litter by 40 per cent in NSW by 2020.

“Not long after we introduced the RVM, people started telling us that Bondi was looking much cleaner,” Ms Reid said.

“Addressing litter is a high priority for Waverley Council, and the RVM is one of the many initiatives we have in place to address the issue.

“The 10 cents refund per container is also a big drawcard, with some people putting that money towards big-ticket items such as family holidays and airfares.”

The Bondi Beach trial of Return and Earn opened for community feedback on 23 January. The RVM has had some local impacts, so we are interested in community feedback on this.

To make a submission, visit https://haveyoursay.waverley.nsw.gov.au/rvm-bondi-beach-trial. Community feedback closes on 13 February.

The Bondi Beach RVM is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week, behind the Bondi Pavilion in the carpark adjacent to Campbell Parade at Beach Road.  Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached.

For information about the RVM, visit http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/residents/waste_and_recycling/return_and_earn.

*As of 4 January, 2019, a total of 1, 159, 244 cans and bottles had been returned for recycling including 55,137 containers during the week of Christmas and 58,603 in the week including New Year’s Eve.