The Central Coast branch of the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) has become a charity partner of the Return and Earn recycling program.
The VRA will be visually featured on the Bateau Bay Reverse Vending Machine until August.
Customers returning empty bottles and cans will be offered the option to donate their 10 cents per item to help the VRA continue its life saving work providing a 24-hour rescue service for people and animals, including cases of motor vehicle accidents, land searches, and domestic and industrial rescues.
Funds raised will help purchase tools and equipment.
For example, by donating the cash return on 30 bottles and cans, it would buy hydraulic fluid to operate the jaws of life to release people trapped in motor vehicle accidents.
The Rescue Squad is one of more than a hundred community groups across NSW announced as local donation partners.
On the Coast, the VRA is based in Warnervale, and the squad has 40 volunteers who are trained to deal with a range of rescue events.
These volunteers, says VRA member, Adam Hart, range from probationary members to lifelong members.
“Our volunteers all love working together and serving their community,” he said.
“It’s a close knit community and we deal with urban, industrial, land and animal rescues.
“We train once a week on Wednesday and all of our members are on call and have full time jobs,” Hart said.
He explained that new members receive all their training through the VRA, and it takes between six to eight months from first signing up to going out on jobs.
“It all depends on how much time each volunteer is willing to put into it.
“We cover anywhere up to 600 jobs a year or roughly one or two a week,” Hart said.
“We have an open door policy,” Hart said.
Since the Return and Earn recycling program launched in December 2018, it has become a fundraising mainstay for many NSW charities and community groups, with more than $22M going to charities and not-for-profits via donations and fees from hosting return points.
Overall, the scheme has seen 5.5 billion containers returned for recycling.
With a 10 cent refund per container, more than $550M has gone into the back pocket of NSW participants.
The scheme has also contributed to a remarkable 43 percent reduction on drink container litter in NSW.
Harry Mulholland