Return and Earn, the NSW Government's container deposit scheme, provides collection points for people to return their eligible drink containers. Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached.
Where are the nearest collection points?
Lane Cove has two Return and Earn collection points.
- The ground floor of the Little Street Carpark, at 1 Little Street Lane Cove - opposite the footbridge at the Aquatic Centre. The machine is open 8:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Saturday and 9:00 - 5:00pm on Sunday and is best suited for smaller volumes that are genuine household amounts of recyclable containers.
- 67 Mars Road Lane Cove West - entrance is on Sirius Street opposite Kanes Hire. The facility is open Monday to Friday 7:00am - 5:00pm and 7:00am - 3:00pm on Saturday and is best suited for larger volumes. It is closed on Sunday. This Return and Earn facility can count more than 100 containers per minute and provide the refunds on the spot. There's also a home collection service. Customers can sign up via their website and receive a 240L bin for them to fill with eligible containers. Once your bin is full you can schedule a collection and have the full bin swapped for an empty bin.
What containers are eligible?
Most empty 150-millilitre to three litre beverage containers will be eligible for a 10 cent refund when presented to an approved NSW collection point. There are some exceptions, and containers not eligible for a refund are described in the section below. Containers should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken, and have the original label intact.
With the new Impact Calculator, you can enter the number of containers you've returned to see the positive environmental impact you've achieved.
Container materials that may be eligible for a refund include containers made from:
- Glass
- Plastic
- Aluminium
- Steel
- Liquid paperboard (cartons)
Containers that are not included in the scheme and do not qualify for a refund are:
- Plain milk (or milk substitute) containers
- Flavoured milk containers of one litre or more
- Pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of one litre or more
- Glass wine bottles
- Glass spirit bottles
- Containers for cordials, and concentrated fruit/vegetable juices
- Registered health tonics.
The above information has been made available via the Return and Earn website.
