The Opportunity

Richmond Primary School Association wanted to raise funds for a new playground while also reinforcing environmental responsibility across its school community.

By joining Recycle Rewards, the school association found a simple way to turn everyday container collection into a steady, low-effort fundraising stream – while helping reduce litter and increase recycling.

How Richmond Primary School Is Doing It

1. Registering as a Recycle Rewards donation partner
Richmond Primary School Association registered as an official Recycle Rewards Donation Partner, making it easy for families and supporters to donate their container refunds directly to the school’s playground fund.

2. Making it easy for the community to participate
Families, staff and community members can support the school in two simple ways:

  • collecting containers at home and dropping them off via school-organised collections, with the refunds directed to the playground fundraiser.
  • setting Richmond Primary School Association as their preferred payout method in the Recycle Rewards app, and scanning their app before they begin returning their eligible drink containers at a refund point

This flexibility means supporters can contribute whenever it suits them – whether returning a few containers or donating a large collection.

3. Involving students in real-world sustainability
Students are actively involved in collecting containers and learning where recycling goes. They understand how each returned container contributes directly to their new playground, connecting environmental action with a tangible outcome at their school.

4. Promoting the fundraiser through school channels
The school uses newsletters, social media and community conversations to remind families and locals that donating their containers can directly benefit Richmond Primary School. This regular visibility helps keep the fundraiser front of mind without requiring large fundraising events.

5. Class competitions
Tangible outcomes inspire participation, which the school has leveraged with competitions to see which class can bring in the most containers, with a golden bin award up for grabs!

The Impact

  • Ongoing fundraising: Every eligible container returned delivers a guaranteed 10 cent contribution.
  • Environmental education: Students learn firsthand about recycling, resource recovery and litter reduction.
  • Community connection: Families and locals can support the school simply by recycling what they already use.

Why It Works

Richmond Primary School Association’s approach shows how Recycle Rewards can be integrated into everyday life at school. There’s no selling, no door-knocking and no pressure – just consistent, meaningful contributions generated through container collection.

By turning containers into playground equipment, Richmond Primary School is proving that small actions, repeated often, can build something big.