MetPac-SA Explores Australia’s Return and Earn Model with TOMRA Cleanaway

In May 2025, Kishan Singh, CEO of MetPac-SA, and Sally-Anne Käsner, founder of Circular Vision, recently visited TOMRA Cleanaway’s Eastern Creek Sorting Facility in New South Wales (NSW) Australia. This visit offered a first-hand look at the operations of Australia’s NSW’s Return and Earn program — a leading example of a successful container deposit scheme (CDS) underpinned by circular economy principles.    

A Modern Approach to Drink Container Recovery  

Return and Earn was introduced in 2017 by the NSW Government to tackle the growing issue of drink container litter across the state. After a competitive tender process for network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway was appointed to design and manage the infrastructure that now provides drink container recycling services for over 8 million residents across NSW. The scheme is regulated by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and administration and finance activities are delivered by scheme coordinator, Exchange for Change. 

At its core, the scheme offers consumers a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned via various accessible return points — including reverse vending machines (RVMs), over-the-counter sites, bulk depots, and hybrid collection points. This user-friendly model is underpinned by a coordinated effort between government, industry stakeholders, and the public.    

Inside the Eastern Creek Facility  

Located in Western Sydney, the Eastern Creek facility is a high-capacity processing hub that handles an estimated 6 to 7 million containers per day. During peak times, this number increases significantly. The facility receives materials from various return locations across the state and includes:  

• On-site RVM for public returns  

• 5 stage sorting for verified ‘lightweight’ drink containers  

• Commodity baling areas 

• Logistics hub for movement of commodity into recycling markets on and off-shore 

• Dedicated processing zones for bulk and small-scale returns    

The operation exemplifies efficiency and scalability, key attributes for any successful extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative.  

Optimising Material Recovery  

One of the most compelling insights from the visit was the performance of aluminium used beverage cans (UBCs), which boast a 65% collection rate through the scheme. These materials are less contaminated than those collected via kerbside recycling systems, which increases their market value by 30–40%. Once sorted and baled, the UBCs are exported for further recycling.  

Residual waste — specifically labels, and caps — are separated and appropriately managed, ensuring streamlined processing.  

What Makes a Container Eligible?  

Return and Earn, like other CDS programs across Australia, targets single use drink containers that are frequently consumed away from home and often contribute to public litter. Eligible containers include:  

• Most aluminium cans  

• Plastic and glass bottles (150 ml – 3 L)  

• Liquid paperboard cartons  

Ineligible containers include:  

• Wine and spirit bottles  

• Milk and juice containers over 1 L  

• Cordial and concentrate bottles  

 

The success of this sorting mechanism is rooted in wide scale public education, convenient infrastructure, and a shared commitment across stakeholders to reduce waste.