As NSW celebrates the major new Return and Earn milestone of 11 billion containers recycled, the Goulburn electorate have millions of reasons to join in the celebrations, having recycled an incredible 140,665,364 bottles, cans and cartons through their local return points.
The NSW Coalition commenced the scheme around six years ago and 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.
Charities and local community groups and schools are also benefitting from the scheme, with $54 million raised state-wide for hundreds of charities and community groups.
Across the Goulburn electorate the collective recycling efforts is equivalent to saving:
- Energy equal to the average annual use of 1,467 households’
- CO2 emissions equal to taking 6,267 cars off the road for a year
- Water that could fill 331 Olympic swimming pools
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. Across each LGA:
- Goulburn Mulwaree returned 59,648,903 items
- Upper Lachlan returned 8,004,519 items
- Wingecarribee returned 48,373,796 items
- Yass Valley returned 24,638,146 items
For more information about Return and Earn or to find your nearest return point visit http://www.returnandearn.org.au.
Quotes attributable to Wendy Tuckerman, Member for Goulburn
“Congratulations to the Goulburn electorate for making Return and Earn part of your routine. Your enthusiastic participation is playing an important role in the circular economy and achieving a more sustainable future.
“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.”
Quote attributable to Shadow Minister for Environment Kellie Sloane:
“Return and Earn is a great environmental success story – and one that whole communities can participate in and be rewarded by.
“I’m thrilled to see that six years or so after its introduction by the coalition Government, it’s become a way of life for so many local households.”
WENDY TUCKERMAN 