A Return and Earn bin basket at Turnock Park, Chinderah.
Tweed Shire Council has installed 30 Return and Earn bin baskets beside public bins across the Shire, making it easier for people to recycle eligible drink containers and reduce litter and landfill waste.
The bin baskets have been installed next to public bins in high-traffic locations, allowing people to leave empty bottles and cans for others to collect rather than placing them in landfill-bound rubbish bins.
Residents and community groups can easily collect containers from the baskets and return them to a nearby Return and Earn location to receive the 10-cent refund.
Council's Unit Coordinator Resource Recovery, Mr Dawson, said the initiative provides a simple and practical way to keep recyclable drink containers out of landfill while supporting the community.
"Anyone out and about can now leave their empty bottle or can in one of the bin baskets for someone else to collect," Mr Dawson said.
"This small action gives someone else the chance to claim the refund, whether it's a child saving for pocket money or a local group fundraising, while helping keep our streets, parks and waterways clean."
A recent trial of the bin baskets by Return and Earn scheme coordinator Exchange for Change found they reduced the number of drink containers placed in public bins and sent to landfill by up to 80 per cent.
The Return and Earn bin baskets have been installed at the following locations including:
- Turnock Park, Chinderah
- Ray Pascoe Park, Tweed Heads
- Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Tweed Heads
- Rowan Park, Tweed Heads
- Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, Murwillumbah
- Knox Park, Murwillumbah
- Burringbar Park, Burringbar
- Fingal Foreshore Park, Fingal Head
- Ambrose Brown Park, Pottsville
More than 15 billion drink containers have been returned for recycling through more than 660 return points across NSW, putting over $1.5 billion in refunds back into people's pockets.
There are currently 8 return points in Tweed Shire for residents to recycle their containers. Visit www.returnandearn.org.au to find your nearest location.
The bin baskets were provided by Exchange for Change as part of its Return and Earn Bin Baskets for Councils program.
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Photo 1: Return and Earn bin basket
Caption: A Return and Earn bin basket at Turnock Park, Chinderah.
Connection to Council's Community Strategic Plan:
