Five Illawarra surf clubs will, from next week, join the growing number of collection sites for empty drink containers.
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About 70 Surf Life Saving clubs across the state have signed up to become donation sites for the NSW Government’s new “Return and Earn” container deposit scheme.
From Monday, beachgoers will be able to drop off eligible plastic bottles, cans and glass bottles at surf clubs.
The 10-cent return will then be donated to that club, through a partnership with recycling company Envirobank.
NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the scheme was a chance for charities and community groups to benefit from the drink deposit initiative.
“Not only do surf club ‘donation sites’ enable people to help one of the state’s largest volunteer community organisations, they also provide additional and convenient drink container collection points for everyone.”
Surf Life Saving NSW, chief Steven Pearce, said the program provided a way for clubs and community members to raise funds for the vital services provided by volunteer surf lifesavers.
For every drink container donated by a member of the public, 8-cents goes directly to the local surf club where the containers are deposited.
- Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steven Pearce
“For every drink container donated by a member of the public, 8-cents goes directly to the local surf club where the containers are deposited,” he said.
“The remaining 2-cents will be used by Surf Life Saving NSW to fund community education programs, help train lifesavers and provide vital lifesaving and rescue equipment to our clubs.
“Thanks to the generosity of our members and the community, if we capture just a fraction of the estimated 1.6 billion drink containers to be recycled over the next 20 years through the scheme, I have no doubt it has the potential to become a long-term source of fundraising.”
From Monday, donations can be made at Bulli, Gerringong, Scarborough Wombarra, Shellharbour and Warilla Barrack Point Surf Live Saving Clubs.
It is expected more clubs will become donation sites throughout 2018.
Other collection points – where recyclers can collect the 10 cent return – are located at selected Woolworths and Vinnies stores.