Parramatta welcomes new Return and Earn depot

PARRAMATTA is now home to a new Return and Earn depot designed to make recycling eligible bottles, cans and cartons easier than ever before.

Parramatta Return and Earn Depot – the 15th return point in the Parramatta council area – was opened last week attended by local community groups and charities, including Ronald McDonald House Charity, Feel the Magic and The Smith Family.

The staffed depot features the latest ‘tip and go’ technology, which can process up to 100 containers a minute, without the need to pre-sort containers.

The depot also has standard Return and Earn machines ideal for recyclers with smaller amounts of drink containers to get their container refunds.

Recyclers can print a voucher for the refund amount, which can be redeemed at Woolworths for a discount on their shopping or for cash, or opt for an e-voucher or payment directly into their bank or PayPal account using the Return and Earn app.

Locals can also donate their refund to one of over 600 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app, including Feel the Magic, which offers a range of support programs designed to help children cope with the loss of a loved one.

Alternatively, recyclers can donate to the current statewide donation partner, The Smith Family, who help provide young people experiencing disadvantage with an equal chance to learn, and create better futures through the power of education.

Parramatta Return and Earn Depot is located at 25 Argyle Street, Parramatta. Entry via car to the depot is via O’Connell Street.

The depot is open daily between 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. For more information on Return and Earn visit: www.returnandearn.org.au.

NSW Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis said: “City of Parramatta residents are enthusiastic recyclers, having returned over 172 million eligible bottles, cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began in 2017.

“More than 16 billion containers have been returned for recycling through the network of over 660 return points across NSW since Return and Earn began, resulting in over $1.6 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets.”

James Dorney, CEO, network operator TOMRA Cleanaway said: “It is conveniently located in Parramatta’s central business district and offers different ways for the community to return their eligible drink containers, from self-serve Return and Earn machines to staff-assisted recycling.”

Danielle Smalley, CEO, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change said over $100M has been raised from donations and fees from hosting return points since the scheme launched.