Recycle Rewards has marked a major milestone in its community impact journey, presenting Landcare Tasmania with a cheque for $7785 for its time as the container refund scheme’s first major donation partner.

Since Recycle Rewards began on 1 May, thousands of Tasmanians have been choosing to turn their container refunds into donations that directly benefit local causes. Landcare Tasmania, the statewide network supporting grassroots environmental projects, was the first organisation to be featured on the state-of-the-art reverse vending machines where Tasmanians return their eligible drink containers. The result was 77,854 eligible containers returned through Recycle Rewards.

Recycle Rewards is a new way to fundraise for hundreds of community groups now registered as Donation Partners. According to TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley, “This partnership shows the real power of combining recycling with community giving.”

TOMRA Cleanaway General Manager Tasmania Corey Wingard said “Landcare’s involvement as the first major donation partner is a demonstration of all the positive impact Recycle Rewards has brought to the Tasmanian community and environment.”

Landcare Tasmania CEO Peter Stronarch said the support highlights how small everyday actions can add up to make a big difference. “We’re so grateful to the Tasmanians who have chosen to back local Landcare projects through Recycle Rewards. These funds go directly into on-the-ground work to restore bushland, care for waterways and support volunteers across the state.”

More than four months since Recycle Rewards began, Tasmanians are continuing to embrace the scheme. More than 33 million eligible containers have been returned: 16 million in the south, 10 million in the north and 7 million in the northwest.

Aluminium continues to be the top material returned, accounting for 62% of returns. PET plastic made up about 21%, glass 15% and liquid paperboard carton and other materials about 2%.

Tasmanians are encouraged to continue to recycle their eligible drink containers at more than 40 convenient and accessible refund points across the state, including on King and Flinders Islands. Every eligible drink container returned receives a 10c refund, which you can keep for yourself or donate to a local charity or community group.

Visit recyclerewards.com.au for more information about Recycle Rewards, including container eligibility, refund point locations, signing up as a Donation Partner and how to make the most of your fundraising effort.