Recyclers in NSW are being urged to donate their 10c refunds from bottles and cans to help raise funds for wildlife conservation under the latest statewide ‘Protect Our Planet’ appeal.
Anyone using a Return and Earn machine from now until April 2023 can support the appeal by selecting the ‘donate’ option when returning their eligible containers or by using the Return and Earn app.
The appeal aims to raise $150,000 to support the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Bush Heritage Australia.
The six-month appeal is targeting 1.5 million bottles and cans for recycling under the NSW Container Deposit Scheme.
Australian Marine Conservation Society CEO, Darren Kindleysides, said the donations help save endangered marine animals.
“Every 10c container refund donated will help us save the lives of whales, turtles and seabirds who are being killed by ocean plastic every day,” he said.
Bush Heritage Australia will meanwhile use the donations to help protect landscapes and 7,716 native species of plants and animals.
Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange For Change, the scheme coordinator, said Return and Earn has recycled more than 755,000 tonnes of materials since launching in 2017.
“Over the next six months, recyclers in NSW can double the environmental impact of their returns by donating their refund to support the important work of these two major environmental charities while also ensuring their containers are being recycled,” she said.
More than eight billion containers have been collected in NSW since the scheme began with refunds exceeding $800 million.