The NSW Government’s Return and Earn vending machine was an incentive welcomed by the Wellington region, however not everyone is impressed a month on since it was installed.
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The reverse vending machines are part of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme, with an aim to reduce the volume of litter by 40 per cent by 2020.
As of January 5 the state-wide total of bottles recycled tipped over the 23 million mark. More than 180,000 of those were collected from the Wellington station since it commenced operation on December 1.
A spokesperson for the NSW Environment Protection Authority confirmed a total of 183,957 bottles had been recycled in Wellington as of January 5, peaking over the holiday period with a daily record of 10,883 on December 28. January 1 came in a close second with 9156 bottles recycled, and December 31 third with 8664.
While the desire for a Return and Earn machine in Wellington is evident, some residents have been left frustrated at the “lack of maintenance”.
Tracey Ryan of Stuart Town voiced her disappointment after she and several others were unable to use the machine on January 1 due to it being at capacity.
Ms Ryan said she was a keen supporter of the recycling incentive when it was announced, but a three-hour wait for the machine to be emptied last week “wasn’t good enough”.
“People from out of town travelled in especially to use it and the machine was full,” she said.
“It’s happening on a daily basis – people are going off their heads, it’s not good enough.
“People are trying to do the right thing and this happens.”
A spokesperson for TOMRA Cleanaway said the machines are emptied on a regular basis, and as demand requires.
“More people are using the reverse vending machines and visiting collection points in the holiday period, and TOMRA-Cleanaway has put additional support arrangements in place,” the spokesperson said.
“Machines do fill up but Network Operator TOMRA Cleanaway receives an electronic notification as reverse vending machines near capacity and dispatch trucks to empty the machines accordingly.
“Members of the community can report full machines or other machine issues to TOMRA Cleanaway on 1800 290 691.”
The potential of a second Return and Earn machine in Wellington wasn’t ruled out, the spokesperson saying TOMRA Cleanaway is deploying teams daily across NSW to review potential sites, including across the Wellington region.
