Novocastrians have earned themselves more than $2 million, just by being smart about their rubbish.
At the city’s Cash 4 Cans, Bucks 4 Bottles site, otherwise known as the Newcastle Container Return depot, residents have been refunded on more than 20 million items in the past two years.
The milestone was reached this week, which coincidentally marks National Recycling Week (8-14 November).
The containers dropped at the Carrington site include aluminium cans, plastic and glass bottles and cartons.
Cash 4 Cans Bucks 4 Bottles CEO Luke Parker says the environmental impact of the container returns is impressive too.
Newcastle Container Return’s Positive Environmental Impact has been calculated:
- Water Saving Contribution: 118 million litres – enough to fill 47 Olympic swimming pools.
- Energy Saving Contribution: 26 million megajoules – enough to power 1,053 Australian homes/year.
- Landfill Saving Contribution: 0.8 million kilograms.
- Carbon Emissions Avoided: 2.4 million kilograms of CO2.
“If you stacked all the containers end to end, it would be more than enough to reach from the North to South Pole,” Mr Parker said.
“That’s 20,480km long.”
High-speed automated counters and conveyor systems make for quick and easy container deposits at the Parker Street address.
Customers can return and earn for immediate cash or use ‘Drop & Go’, a container drop off and money transfer initiative.
Cash 4 Cans Bucks 4 Bottles are authorised container return sites under the NSW Return and Earn Scheme.
There are four depots located in NSW including Blacktown, Coffs Harbour, Prestons and Newcastle.
Rebecca Riddle, Newcastle weekly https://newcastleweekly.com.au/cash-4-cans-newcastle-earns-2m-for-its-rubbish/
