New Site Required Urgently for Moree Return and Earn Machine

Media Release: Adam Marshall

MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today called for a new site to be found for Moree’s Return and Earn machine, as a matter of urgency.

Mr Marshall took his request on behalf of the community to Environment Minister James Griffin late last week, following the sudden closure of the existing machine – in the Woolworths carpark – earlier this month.

It is understood the landlord advised the operators of the machine they no longer wanted to host the container deposit scheme facility.

“This sudden closure of the popular Return and Earn machine has frustrated many Moree locals who have been heavy users since it was installed several years ago,” Mr Marshall said.

“I’ve made those community frustrations abundantly clear to the Minister who assured me the Return and Earn machine will remain in Moree and re-open as soon as a new location for it can be found.

“I’m glad the Minister has confirmed Moree will keep its Return and earn machine, as the next closest is in Warialda, almost 90 kilometres away.”

Mr Marshall said the Return and Earn operators, TOMRA Cleanaway, were currently in discussions with Moree Plains Shire Council about two potential sites within the township.

“I am hopeful these discussions will bear fruit in the coming weeks and we can see the Return and Earn facility up and running again before Christmas at a new location in town,” he said.

“In the meantime, I encourage Moree locals to store up their cans and bottles for when the machine is re-located and re-opened.”

Mr Marshall said the Moree Return and Earn machine had been one of the most used across the region with close to 500,000 cans and bottles recycled through it.

“This volume of bottles and cans equated to roughly $50,000 being claimed by locals through this machine, which is a huge amount of money in the pockets of locals and an enormous amount of recyclables being disposed of rather than going into landfill or littering roadsides and local public spaces,” Mr Marshall said.

“I’ll keep the pressure on to ensure a new site is found quickly and this important service returned as soon as possible.”