Return and Earn refunds 10 cents for drink containers of 150 mL to 3 L carrying the 10c mark (aluminium, glass, PET and HDPE, cartons, steel). It has taken back 16.6 billion containers and claims a 65 per cent cut in drink-container litter. Wine and spirit bottles, cordials and larger containers are due to join from mid-2027.
What happens: material is separated by type and sold by network operator TOMRA Cleanaway to domestic and overseas buyers. Claims of bottle-to-bottle recycling are operator statements, not audited outcomes. Critics say 10c is now too low.
How to start: returnandearn.org.au/ (return point map; refund by cash, PayPal or donation to a charity).