Return and Earners doing their bit to help the environment have new ways to help a good cause at the same time, with new donation partners featuring on reverse vending machines across NSW.
Parkinson's NSW, Scouts NSW, and Wildlife Rescue Australia are the three statewide donation partners featuring on every Return and Earn reverse vending machine for the next three months.
Each machine also has a local community group or school available as a fourth donation choice, or, if there is no local option, donations can also be directed to the Salvation Army.
"All of our donation partners are doing great work that anyone can choose to support when returning eligible drink containers to a reverse vending machine for the 10 cent refund," EPA A/Chair and CEO Mark Gifford said.
"After returning your containers at the machine, simply select the 'donate' option and choose the partner you would like to give your refund.
"By donating your Return and Earn refund you're not only helping to keep our environment free of drink container litter, you're also supporting a great cause in your local community or across the whole state."
Parkinson's NSW is a not-for-profit organisation that strives to make life better for people living with Parkinson's Disease, as well as their families and carers by providing vital services such as counselling, support groups, the InfoLine information service, neurological nurses and education.
Scouts NSW has more than 18,000 members and engages and inspires young Australians to develop confidence, resilience and leadership via fun and challenging opportunities to grow through adventure.
Wildlife Rescue is a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation dedicated to rescuing native animals. Their emergency hotline 1300 596 457 is staffed 24 hours, 7 days.
Mr Gifford said that any non-profit organisation can apply to become a donation partner.
"Slots are open on a first-come, first-served basis to a range of statewide and local groups including schools, sporting and community groups, charities and not-for-profits.
"Featuring on a reverse vending machine is an easy way to fundraise and a great opportunity to raise your profile in the local community."
Return and Earn is the state's largest litter reduction initiative and has had great success since it began on 1 December 2017, collecting almost 2 billion containers and reducing eligible drink container litter volume by 57% in NSW.
Most containers between 150mls and 3 litres are eligible for the 10 cent refund, with some exceptions.
