Schools across Tasmania are using Recycle Rewards to raise funds, reduce waste and bring students together around a positive environmental action.
Whether it’s a small primary school donation point or a whole-school fundraising drive, Recycle Rewards makes it easy for schools to combine sustainability, education and fundraising.
Every eligible drink container returned to a Recycle Rewards refund point is worth 10 cents, which quickly adds up when the whole school community gets involved. Funds raised can support classroom resources, playground upgrades, sports equipment, excursions or school programs.
Participating in container collection gives students a real-world example of how the circular economy works. It helps reinforce lessons about litter, sustainability, waste reduction and resource recovery in a practical way.
School collections often involve families, neighbours and local businesses donating containers. This helps build strong connections between the school and the broader community while supporting a shared environmental goal.
Collecting eligible drink containers helps keep recyclable materials out of general waste and reduces litter in school grounds and local areas.
School associations can register as a Recycle Rewards donation partner to receive refunds via the Recycle Rewards app or by using the dedicated “charity barcode” issued to donation partners upon registration.
School associations typically collect containers in two ways:
On-site collection – bring eligible drink containers to school to be stored. A nominated volunteer then returns the containers to a refund point at their convenience.
Direct returns – scan your Recycle Rewards app before returning drink containers at a reverse vending machine or depot. From here, directly donate refunds at the refund point in two ways: select your fundraising campaign as the preferred payout method in the app, or scan your charity barcode on the machine.
Let your school community know about your fundraising campaign. Include information in newsletters, assemblies, social media posts and parent communications to encourage participation and drive returns.
See our free schools toolkit to assist you with promotion here
Every eligible drink container returned to a Recycle Rewards refund point helps save water, energy and carbon emissions by reducing the need for raw materials in the production of new drink containers.
Help your students understand the circular economy and the importance of their recycling by using our impact calculator to see just how much of an impact your school community is making. When you register as a donation partner, you’ll be able to search for your school on the yellow tab of the calculator and find live results.
Place clearly labelled donation bins in accessible locations such as near canteens, school entrances or staff areas. Visibility helps remind students and families to participate. Use our free templates to apply Recycle Rewards branding, which will help reduce bin contamination.
Student leadership groups, sustainability committees and environmental clubs can help manage collections, track totals and promote the program. Organising competitions between classes also helps drive volume.
Local businesses, sporting clubs and community groups may be happy to donate their eligible drink containers to support your campaign.
Recognising achievements – such as reaching collection milestones or fundraising targets – helps keep the school community motivated and engaged.