A SECOND Return and Earn reverse vending machine (RVM) could be installed in the city in as little as a month, Member for Bathurst Paul Toole says.
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The NSW Government initiative to reduce waste through a Container Deposit Scheme has received widespread criticism since it was rolled out on December 1.
The scheme encourages people to return bottles, cans and other acceptable items for a 10 cent refund.
Bathurst’s first RVM, located at Metro Petroleum in South Bathurst, has also received a string of complaints from nearby residents and the wider community.
Their complaints include: that it created a “shocking level of noise pollution”, encouraged people to dump rubbish and often it simply failed to work.
This week, network operator TOMRA Cleanaway visited Bathurst to scout out possible locations for the city’s second RVM.
“They were here in the city, they were looking at potential other sites so we know that there are more Return and Earn machines coming here to Bathurst,” Mr Toole said.
“With a population of the size of greater than 40,000 you definitely need that.”
Mr Toole said the first RVM was far too small for Bathurst’s needs and the next machine would have around twice the capacity.
“It’s good to see that people are wanting to be responsible in disposing of their bottles, but clearly you can tell that a town of 40,000 one machine’s not going to be enough,” he said.
“I’ve made that very clear to the minister [for environment and local government Gabrielle Upton] that I want to see this rollout of this second machine, and possibly a third machine, happening as quickly as possible.”
Mr Toole said TOMRA Cleanaway had responded to residents’ complaints about collection times from the RVM and changed its first collection from 4.30am to 6am.
The majority of items covered under the scheme are beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to three litres.
How it works?
The Container Deposit Scheme rewards consumers for returning containers, cans and bottles to designated recycling points with a 10 cent refund per eligible container. The refund can be:
- Disbursed electronically to the consumer
- Donated to charity
- An in-store credit or cash redemption voucher from selected partners
- Collected containers will be processed through a counting and sorting centre in Western Sydney.
- They will then be recycled and sold into both domestic and export markets. Recovering these resources will create a closed loop, making a sustainable future possible.
What’s acceptable?
The majority of containers covered under this scheme are beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to three litres. Containers can be made from:
- Aluminium
- Glass
- HDPE
- Liquid paperboard
- PET
- Steel
What’s not acceptable?
Containers that are not included in the Scheme and, therefore, 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 containers for wine and spirits
- Casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water of one litre or more
- Sachets for wine of 250 millilitres or more
- Containers for cordials, or concentrated fruit and vegetable juices
- Registered health tonics
These exceptions are like those in the South Australian and Northern Territory container deposit schemes, to aid consistency.