The Orange community came together today to celebrate the official opening of the new Orange Return and Earn automated depot.
Over 50 community leaders attended the gala opening including Orange Mayor Jason Hamling, Local Member Philip Donato MP and representatives from Orange City Council, Orange Ex-Services Club, Coleman’s Earthmoving, Breona Residential Services and local schools.
Orange Return and Earn is operated by local not-for-profit Wangarang Industries, an Australian disability enterprise.
The large-format facility, a first for Orange, has a strong regional community focus and is completely accessible, meeting the needs of people of all abilities.
Local businesses supported its construction including contributions towards the cost of lifting equipment, providing sorting tables and landscaping services.
All aspects of the depot’s operations have been specifically designed to ensure ease and access for staff and customers of all abilities, from on-site parking to bin lifts.
The depot has quickly proven popular since commencing operations in March with Orange locals returning almost 800,000 bottles, cans and cartons in the first three weeks.
Wangarang Industries has also quickly established connections with local groups including Orange Ex-Service Club who donate the refunds from all containers they collect to Wangarang; Blayney Hospital and Wyangla Dam Bushfire Brigade also now recycle their eligible drink containers through the depot with the refunds from these containers supporting their own operations.
More than 11 billion drink containers have now been returned for recycling through Return and Earn’s network of 620+ return points across NSW since the scheme launched in 2017.
Orange Return and Earn is located at 1635 Forest Road, Orange and is open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays.
For more information visit www.returnandearn.org.au.
Quotes attributable to James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator
“The Central-West community are already enthusiastic participants in Return and Earn, having returned over 72 million containers through the three local return points since the scheme launched six years ago.
Contact details:
Evonne McCabe 0438 459 524