LISMORE RESIDENTS HAVE 84 MILLION REASONS TO CELEBRATE NEW RETURN AND EARN MILESTONE

As NSW celebrates the major new Return and Earn milestone of 11 billion containers recycled, Lismore locals have millions of reasons to join in the celebrations, having recycled an incredible 84 Million bottles, cans and cartons through their local return points.

The Liberals and Nationals in government commenced the scheme around six years ago. Mark Speakman was the Environment Minister who oversaw the legislation and said at the time “giving people a financial incentive to do the right thing will benefit everyone”.

Since its introduction, the scheme has surpassed all expectations, with more than a billion dollars in container refunds back into people’s pockets and almost a million tonnes of materials recycled.

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Charities and local community groups and schools are also benefitting from the scheme, with $54 million raised statewide for hundreds of charities and community groups via donated refunds and return point hosting fees.

“Congratulations to the Lismore community for making Return and Earn part of your regular routine. Your enthusiastic participation is playing an important role in growing our domestic circular economy and achieving a more sustainable future,” Ms MacDonald said today.

Return and Earn Lismore

In Lismore the collective recycling efforts are making a difference. The positive impact of recycling containers into new containers rather than using virgin materials is equivalent to:

• Energy savings equal to the average annual use of 875 households’
• CO2 emissions avoided equal to taking 3739 cars off the road for a year
• Water savings that could fill 197 Olympic swimming pools

“Recycling your eligible bottles, cartons and cans through Return and Earn is an easy way for all of us to help the environment and support the work of some amazing local charities,” she said.

With all plastic and glass drink containers collected through the network recycled in Australia, Return and Earn has led to a 54% reduction in drink container litter since pre-scheme levels and become a leading contributor to our growing domestic circular economy.

For more information about Return and Earn or to find your nearest return point, visit here.

For more local Lismore news, click here.