In a new initiative to enhance recycling in public places, the Hawkesbury City Council will install 30 Return and Earn recycling bin baskets on public bins throughout the area. This move is designed to encourage community engagement in recycling efforts and divert eligible bottles and cans from litter and landfills.
The strategically placed bin baskets will be affixed to council bins located in high-traffic areas, enabling individuals to leave their empty drink containers for collection by others. Local residents and community groups will then have the opportunity to retrieve these containers from the baskets and recycle them at nearby Return and Earn locations, earning a 10-cent refund for each item.
The initiative follows a recent trial conducted by Exchange for Change, the coordinator of the Return and Earn scheme. The trial demonstrated that the bin baskets effectively reduced the number of drink containers discarded in public bins and in landfills by up to 80%.
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather commented on the initiative, stating, “The bin baskets are a simple solution to keep recyclable drink containers out of landfill. Anyone out and about can now just leave their empty bottle or can in one of the bin baskets for someone else to collect. This simple act gives someone else the chance to claim the refund, whether it’s a child collecting for extra pocket money or a local group raising funds. It keeps our local environment clean while benefiting our community.”
This initiative aligns with Hawkesbury City Council’s ongoing commitment to reducing landfill waste and promoting sustainability. The bin baskets are provided by Exchange for Change under its Return and Earn Bin Baskets for Councils program, marking a significant step forward in local environmental efforts.