Friday 16 March 2018

Belmont North Gets Container Deposit Machine

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The rollout of Return and Earn is continuing across the Hunter, with the state government and EPA announcing a new collection point at Belmont North.

A reverse vending machine has been installed at Jewellstown Plaza, and will operate 7 days a week from 7am until 10pm.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the state government is committed to developing the scheme.

"Containers make up about 50% of our litter-load," he said, "so it's very important to continue the scheme."

He said it's disappointing the Labor Party has been so negative about Return and Earn "considering they failed to implement their own container deposit scheme."

It seems Hunter residents have widely embraced the scheme, with over 11 million containers returned in the region and 152 million in the state since December 1st, 2017.