News Corp Australia
First published 3 Apr 2026, 10:55am
Residents are using their yellow bins less as they make money from recycling products.
One Aussie state has embraced a recycling reward scheme, bypassing the use the traditional yellow bin in favour of getting paid to recycle.
Since Tasmania launched its Recycle Rewards almost a year ago, more than 100 million containers have been returned for recycling.
This big change in front yards has become a trend across the country, with similar schemes gaining popularity among residents nationwide.
The Tasmanian scheme has become so popular, a new $5 million container sorting facility has opened in the suburb of St Leonards by Cleanaway.
“Tasmanians across the state have enthusiastically embraced Recycle Rewards, returning more than 100 million containers in just 11 months since May last year,” TOMRA Cleanaway CEO James Dorney said.
More people are taking part in the recycling deposit scheme.
“This new facility is where millions of returned containers will be sorted, processed and prepared for a second life by turning the state’s container waste into valuable resources.
“This demonstrates the value that practical action can have in helping to create a cleaner, greener environment today as well as a stronger circular economy for generations to come.”
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The investment has shown residents move away from just dumping recycling in yellow bins, instead taking advantage of the 10 cents return for container including plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
Other states have similar schemes in place including the Return and Earn in NSW and Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
How does it work?
* Residents should look for a mark on the back of empty drink containers to see if it is eligible for cash back
* Most 150mL to 3L drink containers can be refunded for 10 cents each if they are made from glass, plastic, aluminium, steel or liquid paperboard (carton).
* Instead of just placing them in yellow bins, search for container return locations in your state to be reimbursed
English (US) · 