Local businesses supporting sustainability in Penrith via Return and Earn Program

Local Businesses, Community Groups and Schools are invited to partner with Vinnies Penrith to support local sustainability outcomes by recycling drink containers and reducing waste to landfill.

Vinnies Penrith manages the Nepean Return and Earn Automated Depot located at Coreen Avenue, Penrith, offering residents and businesses an easy automated drive through service that will sort bottles and cans, processing up to 100 cans per minute.

Since its opening the facility has processed over 45 million containers and they now process over 1.5 million containers every month. This is both a huge win for the environment and the local community, with over $150,000 in refunds going to Penrith customers every month.

The Return and Earn program also provides an opportunity for local businesses to reduce their operating costs, as the Vinnie’s Nepean Return and Earn can replace the need for a separate business recycling service. The Nepean Return and Earn is at no cost to local businesses and residents, and part or all the cash refund can be donated to Vinnies to support their ongoing charity work in the community.

Return and Earn is a Container Deposit Scheme set up by the NSW Government, with the network operator TOMRA-Cleanaway, to encourage recycling of drink containers including aluminium cans and plastic and glass bottles, reducing litter in the environment and waste to landfill.

Over 600 collection points have been installed across NSW including reverse vending machines and automated depot facilities. For every eligible container returned, a 10-cent refund is provided, with the choice of receiving the money electronically, a voucher to redeem at a participating retail store (reverse vending machines only), or an option to donate the money to charity.