Return and Earn Proving Popular in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Mount Hutton Return and Earn Collection Point in the Hunter is proving to be among one of the most popular in the state.

The State Government has revealed their Container Deposit Scheme has so far seen 18 million containers collected across the state - 27, 813 of those from Mount Hutton alone.

It's a pleasing result for the government after the scheme copped it's fair share of criticism across the region for a lack of machines across the region.

Collection points in the Hunter to get 10 cents for your eligible container include the Woolworths at Singleton, Cessnock, Medowie, Salamander Bay, Mayfield, Mount Hutton and Jesmond. There are also over-the-counter collection points at McDougalls Hill, North Rothbury, Tenambit, Woodberry and Red Head.

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EARLIER:

Hunter MP's want Return and Earn fast-tracked.

Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine first in the Hunter

 

Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine first in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter is now home to the first Return and Earn Reverse Vending Machine in the state in a bid to reduce waste.

The machine is located at the Woolworths in Medowie and it's as easy as putting in a container, and getting 10 cents back to give to a charity, or use at the local Woolies.

The state government will be rolling out more of the machines across the Hunter which will be in use from December 1. The NSW government is aiming to reduce waste by 40 per cent by 2020.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's really quite a simple way to reduce the amount of litter on the streets in the Hunter.

"You put your container in, you get your payment or your voucher or your contribution to your charity and at the back of the vending machine there's a 20 foot container and all the material then goes into the back obviously to be collected by the waste industry," said Scot MacDonald.

The government says the machines present a massive logistical exercise which is why it's taking a little bit of time to get them all installed and up and running.

Scot MacDonald said they've been rolled out in South Australia already and so far, so good.

"It does make a material difference to the rubbish on the road that you see in the streets in your neighbourhood. So look it has got the runs on the board, we were talking to the installers there who've come over from Europe and they're saying it has a good track record in some of the European countries."

The containers eligible for the 10 cent refund include most containers between 150ml and three litres. Containers shouldn't be crushed or broken and have the original label attached to be eligible for the refund.