Return and Earn has announced its latest statewide charity partnership with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to turn empty bottles and cans into life-changing support for people living with low vision and blindness.
The new recycling appeal aims to raise $175,000 for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT over its six-month duration.
It costs about $50,000 and takes more than two years to breed, raise, and train a single guide dog so the initiative will seek to fund and match three fully-trained guide dogs for people living with low vision and blindness across NSW.
Until October 2025, consumers can return any eligible drink container to one of the 32 return points across the Central Coast and choose to donate their refund to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Every eligible bottle, can, or carton is worth 10c and all supporters need to do to get involved is to select donate on the screen at a Return and Earn machine or download the Return and Earn app.
Guide Dogs client Tony said his guide dog Solo has changed his life.
“When my vision deteriorated, my world was turned upside down,” he said.
“Dogs completely changed my life and helped increase my confidence, freedom, and independence, ultimately giving me my life back.
“I cannot thank the people who donate and support us enough, it’s an amazing gift and without fundraising initiatives like this, Solo wouldn’t be possible.
“It’s incredible to think something as simple as recycling a bottle can add up to something truly life changing.”
Community Engagement Manager for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Jaynie Moloney said the organisation was excited to kick off the partnership with Return and Earn.
“It’s such a fantastic way to enable people to support the causes they care about in an easy and affordable way,” she said.
“We know it is getting increasingly hard for people to give, which is why this partnership with Return and Earn couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We’re incredibly thankful for the generosity of the community and the real impact that their contributions make.”
James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, Network Operator for Return and Earn, said the money raised in the campaign would have a large impact on the lives of people living with low vision and blindness by giving them the tools and support needed to safely and confidently navigate their communities.
“I encourage everyone to get behind this cause and help us reach our target of $175,000 by October 19,” he said.
Shirani Glover, Acting CEO of Exchange for Change who is the scheme co-ordinator for Return and Earn, said Return and Earn had become an important fundraising channel for many community groups and charities across NSW with more than $72M raised through donations and return point hosting fees since the scheme began in 2017.
Return and Earn is a partnership between the NSW Government, scheme co-ordinator Exchange for Change and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.
