BATHURST has cemented its reputation as the recycling hub of the Central West with the introduction of an automated bulky recycling depot.
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The depot is part of the NSW Government’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme and is the only one of its type in the region.
Located at Bathurst Recycling in Upfold Street at Gormans Hill, the depot can count and sort 100 items a minute.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the new automated depot was placed in the city due to it central location in the region.
“There’s not too many towns that can now brag that we’ve got three RVMs [reverse vending machine] in our city and also a bulky automated machine,” he said.
Mr Toole said the depot’s introduction would also be a boost for Bathurst and Central West businesses that need to dispose of large quantities of bottles and cans.
“We know that there are a lot of businesses out there that have got large quantities and to be able to dispose of them in the right manner which is looking after the environment can’t be done by lining up at the machines,” he said.
Bathurst Recycling now offers a pick-up service to businesses across the Central West that are keen to recycle large numbers of items.
The Bathurst electorate might have embraced the Return and Earn initiative with nearly one million items already returned to the RVMs, but Mr Toole said the rollout was far below government and community expectations.
The NSW Government promised to have 85 per cent of the proposed 500 Return and Earn sites up and running by December 1, however just 230 were operational with 80 per cent of these in Sydney.
Bathurst did not receive its first Return and Earn machine until three weeks after the rollout date.
“They should have delayed it [the rollout] by a number of months to ensure that they had more reverse vending machines on the ground before they started the implementation of it,” Mr Toole said.
“They were caught on the backfoot and then they’ve been playing catch up ever since.
“That’s what caused a lot of angst and a lot of frustration out there in the community.
“I know there are still some areas out there that are waiting on their machines.”
In Bathurst, complaints about the scheme included noise pollution, excess rubbish being left by users and then ultimately the relocation of one RVM unit.
“There’s no doubt that the rollout could have been handled much much better,” Mr Toole said.
“The rollout was done very poorly, I think it could have been done a lot better.”
Despite the issues, Mr Toole said Bathurst was “steaming ahead” with the opportunity to recycle and dispose of bottles and cans.
He encouraged businesses across the region to embrace the scheme and contact Bathurst Recycling about the opportunities of using the bulky recycling depot.
Users of the RVM and automated bulky recycling depot at Bathurst Recycling will soon be able to choose to donate their 10 cent an item refund to Lifeline Central West.
All donations received will stay with the charity to help it continues its work in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo.
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.