Located outside Hastings Co-op’s Bulk Fuel Depot at the top of High Street, beside the Bago Tavern, the machines receive eligible bottles in return for:

Hastings Co-op’s financial controller Craig Robinson explained that the state government’s Return and Earn scheme, which was initiated late last year, was designed to reduce litter by 40% by 2020.

“Like a lot of locals, Hastings Co-op is committed to sustainability initiatives that benefit the community and we welcomed the opportunity to have the machines at one of our businesses with open arms,” he said.

“Of the refund options available, residents can choose to receive a docket towards their Hastings Co-op IGA shopping or redeem for cash at Wauchope SUPA IGA Plus Liquor, Timbetown SUPA IGA Plus Liquor or Port Macquarie IGA in the Growers Market Complex.

To learn more about the machines, visit the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) website at www.nswcds.com.au

Each reverse vending machine can accept up to 500 containers per transaction, and most drink containers between 150ml and three litres are eligible for the 10 cent refund.

Containers must be intact and have a readable barcode to be eligible. According to the 2015 - 2016 National Litter Index, 49% of litter by volume comprised of beverage containers.

The NSW CDS aims to capture approximately 43% of this volume while rewarding consumers who return containers.

NSW is the third state/territory to adopt the scheme, with QLD and the ACT to follow suit later this year. South Australia has the longest-running CDS in the country and sees a 76.5% return rate for their beverage containers. They also have a very high landfill diversion rate of 80%.