Marrickville Return and Earn Depot Opens

New high-capacity return and earn recycling depot makes bottle and can recycling easier for Marrickville locals

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Marrickville has added another sustainability win to its name with the opening of a new Return and Earn depot, making it easier than ever for locals, charities and community groups to recycle large volumes of drink containers.

Located on Smidmore Street, the Marrickville Return and Earn Depot is the first full depot and the 13th return point in the Inner West Council area. The opening was marked with a community celebration attended by local organisations, including long-standing creative reuse centre Reverse Garbage.

Designed with convenience in mind, the staffed depot can process up to 100 containers a minute and is ideal for anyone returning 500 or more bottles, cans or cartons at a time. There’s no need to pre-sort, and a drive-through layout makes it simple for those arriving with cars, trailers or trucks. A ‘tag and drop’ service is also available, while a separate machine in the car park caters to smaller returns.

Users can choose how they receive their 10-cent refund, with options including vouchers redeemable at Coles, cash, e-vouchers, or direct payment to a bank account or PayPal via the Return and Earn app. Locals can also donate their refunds to one of more than 400 registered donation partners, including Reverse Garbage and Maggie’s Rescue, supporting sustainability education and animal welfare programs.

Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen MP said Inner West residents have returned more than 235 million eligible containers since the scheme launched in 2017, helping to keep local parks and waterways cleaner while supporting the circular economy.

Network operator TOMRA Cleanaway CEO James Dorney described Marrickville as a natural home for the new depot, while Exchange for Change CEO Danielle Smalley highlighted the program’s wider social impact, noting that more than $82 million has been raised for charities and community groups statewide.

The Marrickville Return & Earn Depot 54 Smidmore Street Open Daily, 7am to 6pm.