Applications now open for Return and Earn bin baskets for NSW councils

Applications now open for Return and Earn bin baskets for NSW councils

Return and Earn

Media Release Posted Wednesday 15 July,2026

NSW councils are invited to apply for the latest round of the Return and Earn bin baskets program, which is helping keep bottles, cans and cartons out of landfill and into the hands of eager recyclers.

The simple but innovative solution to recycling drink containers ‘on-the-go’ is becoming a regular sight at parks, beachfronts and other public spaces, with over 1,200 baskets and nearly 60 drink container cradles distributed to 31 NSW councils earlier this year.

The bin baskets are proving very effective at reducing landfill. Initial data from participating councils after installation shows an average of 69 per cent reduction in drink containers going into public place bins, and ultimately landfill.

More councils can take advantage of Return and Earn bin baskets with applications now open to all NSW councils.

The Return and Earn bin baskets encourage community members when out and about to leave their empty eligible containers in the baskets for someone else to collect. Anyone passing by, including charities or community groups, can collect the drink containers to take to their nearest return point for the 10c refund.

Since the scheme began in 2017, more than 16 billion drink containers have been returned by the community through the return point network, and over $1.6 billion in refunds back to the community.

Return & Earn Bins in Batemans Bay, in the Eurobodalla Coast shire. Bins in Korners Park, Wharf Road, Surfside. Lisa Thomas, Waste Projects Officer, Eurobodalla Shire
Council. Maree Fricke, Operations Coordinator in Eurobodalla,
Cleanaway. Photography by Quentin Jones/thinkMammoth. 30 Jan 2026.

Applications for the Return and Earn Bin Baskets for Council Program close on 31 August 2026. For more information and to apply visit: www.returnandearn.org.au/councils.

The program is administered by scheme coordinator, Exchange for Change, and funded by Return and Earn.

Quotes attributable to Danielle Smalley, CEO, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change:

“These baskets provide an easy way for community members to pay it forward, by leaving their unwanted eligible drink containers for others to collect.

“With two out of every three bottles, cans and cartons supplied into NSW currently recycled through the scheme, our Return and Earn bin baskets are an innovative new way to help keep even more containers out of landfill.

“We’ve had very positive feedback from our participating councils and the NSW community to the Return and Earn bin baskets program, and we’re looking forward to seeing even more bin baskets popping up at local parks, beaches and sporting fields.”

*Note: some councils are in the process of installing their bin baskets