The NSW Government's Return and Earn Container Deposit Scheme is supposed to be the largest litter reduction scheme in the state's history and its goal will be to reduce litter volume by 40 per cent by 2020.
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Now Oberon residents can cash in on selected recyclable containers.
Although Oberon does not have a Return and Earn reverse vending machine, residents can use the services of an "Over the Counter Collection Point" at Sargent’s Rural Supplies.
Owner Alan Stapley said he has been doing it for the past few weeks after being approached to operate the service.
Mr Stapley collects items and bags them to be retained in a container. Once the container is full it is collected for transfer to a recycling centre.
"I pay the ten cents in cash on items eligible for a refund,” Mr Stapley said.
"I've just started with plastic bottle products but will eventually include all items.
"All containers must have the 10 cents refund label and be in perfect order.”
Not all containers are eligible for refund. PET, HDPE, some glass, aluminium, steel and liquid paperboard containers are fine. But glass wine and spirit containers are not eligible.
It appears that unless the barcodes can be scanned they will be rejected, so aluminium cans cannot be crushed.
From November 2017, consumers have been paying the extra cost on soft drinks and canned and bottled beer with some items rising by up to 15 per cent a bottle/container. A 24 pack carton of beer was raised by $3 with consumers to get back $2.40 under the Return and Earn scheme.
Mr Stapley said although he is new with this system he can see the benefits in the scheme.
"I'm just getting organised and there's a limit of 100 items per customer at this stage.
"The aim of the scheme is good - to reduce container litter in the environment."
Containers that are not included in the CDS and, therefore, do not qualify for a refund are plain milk or milk substitute containers, flavoured milk containers of one litre or more, pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of one litre or more, glass containers for wine and spirits, casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water of one litre or more, sachets for wine of 250 millilitres or more, containers for cordials, or concentrated fruit and vegetable juices and registered health tonics.
The NSW community has returned more than 40 million containers under the Return and Earn container deposit scheme since collection points opened on December 1.
The closest Return and Earn reverse vending machines are located at Bathurst Community Op Shop in Kelso and Bathurst Recycling in Upfold Street, Gormans Hill.
