WHEN it comes to Return and Earn the Lithgow region has collectively recycled 2.2 million bottles and cans.
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The NSW Government initiative was launched late last year and offers people the chance to receive a 10 cent refund for a range of acceptable glass, aluminum and plastic bottles.
Since then, a whopping 30,964,848 items have been returned.
The Return and Earn initiative not only benefits the environment but also the community, with charities and groups able to sign up to the scheme so that people can choose to donate their refund rather than claim it for themselves.
Among those to benefit from donations is Cooerwull Public School.
An option to donate to the school is included on the reverse vending machine located at the Lithgow Valley Plaza car park.
School teacher Donna Quinn said it was a great opportunity for the school to get extra resources to forward students learning.
“We get to choose which resources we get, so we have chosen sporting equipment,” she said.
“We will get balls, agility ladders and items that support fundamental movement for students.
“The students will get good use out of the items and it is something that the whole school can use.”
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The Central West region’s first ‘Return and Earn’ machine was installed in Dubbo and that city has gone on to claim the top spot for recycling with 8,068,197 items returned to the city’s two collection points.
Second on the list for the most returned items was Bathurst, and while the city might have four collection points, almost three million less items were returned compared to Dubbo.
Since the first machine was installed on December 23, a staggering 5,712,647 items have been funneled back into the city’s four collection points.
Orange came in third for the most items fed in through that city’s two collection points, with 3,962,143 individual items.
Meanwhile the three collection points at Young accepted 3,660,305 items, followed by Cowra (2,994,287), Parkes (2,279,734), Lithgow (2,201,648) and Wellington (2,085,887).
A NSW Environment Protection Authority spokeswoman said donation partnerships were available for three-month periods. To find out more about donation partnerships visit www.returnandearn.org.au.