A new Return and Earn machine has opened at First Choice Liquor in North Wollongong while two existing Return and Earn machines in the area will soon be upgraded.

The North Wollongong Return and Earn machine is the 16th return point in the Wollongong City Council area. It is located in the car park of First Choice Liquor near North Wollongong train station at 2a Flinders St, North Wollongong and is open daily between 9am to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends.

Users of the new North Wollongong Return and Earn machine can print a voucher for the refund amount, which can be redeemed for cash at Coles, or they can opt for an e-voucher or payment directly into their bank or PayPal account using the Return and Earn app.

To support the Illawarra community’s enthusiastic participation in the scheme, two other Return and Earn machines are being upgraded:

Return and Earn West Wollongong Hellenic Club - 57 Princes Hwy, West Wollongong – the machine will be unavailable from Tuesday 8 April until Tuesday 15 April while upgrades take place.

Return and Earn Woolworths Corrimal - Princes Hwy & Short Street, Corrimal – the machine will be unavailable from Monday 28 April until Thursday 1 May 2025 while upgrades take place.

The new and upgraded Return and Earn machines feature the latest ‘takes-all’ technology. This means you can return all your eligible containers through any chute, without the need to pre-sort your glass containers from your plastic and aluminium ones, making it quicker than ever to recycle and get the 10c refund back.

These machines will also feature new digital screens and larger awnings for a better experience - rain, hail or shine.
 
Refunds can also be donated to one of over 300 donation partners listed on the Return and Earn app. There’s a range of Wollongong charities to consider donating to including Wollongong Homeless Hub, who assist individuals and families who are homeless to transition into crisis, transitional and long-term accommodation.

Alternatively, you can donate to the current statewide donation partner Foodbank NSW & ACT. Foodbank is a food relief charity providing much needed assistance to individuals and families across NSW and the ACT. Donating just 5 containers creates 1 meal for Foodbank.  

For more information on Return and Earn visit: www.returnandearn.org.au   

Quote attributable to Member for Wollongong Paul Scully:

“Wollongong residents are enthusiastic recyclers, having returned over 376 million eligible bottles, cans and cartons through local return points since the scheme began.

"The new North Wollongong Return and Earn machine means it will be much easier for residents of central Wollongong or those going to or from work to return their eligible containers and collect their refund.

“More than 13 billion drink containers have been returned for recycling through the network of over 660 return points across NSW since Return and Earn began, resulting in over $1.3 billion in container refunds back in people’s pockets.”