Six months after the roll out of the NSW government’s Return and Earn scheme, Mudgee residents still have no way to claim the rebate on bottles and cans.
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Since December 1, a 15-cent levy has been placed on most drink containers when purchased at retailers, to fund the rebate scheme, with consumers getting 10 cents back when they return to the empty container to a collection point.
The government was heavily criticised for the lack of return points when the scheme started but has since got over-the-counter collection or reverse vending machines in most major towns.
Except Mudgee.
Six months later, they only way residents can get their rebate is by driving to Kandos, Rylstone or Wellington, or towns even further away, and using their facilities.
There have been attempts to place a reverse vending machine at Mudgee, but they have been unsuccessful.
The first location identified was Byron Place, but the Mid-Western Regional Council was concerned about the additional demand for parking spaces at an already busy location.
Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said more recently there were plans for a machine at Mudgee’s railway station but that destination was also deemed unsuitable.
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“We were looking at putting it at the railway station but it’s now a state significant site because of heritage so that’s put us on the back foot once again,” Mr Grant said.
“That’s half the challenge. To put it in a location that’s accessible to the community and not out of reach, but also not to interfere with the heritage and cultural parts of the Mudgee area and car parking spaces.
“We’ve taken a step back in that regard which is very frustrating.”
Earlier in May, an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) spokesperson said TOMRA Cleanaway was ‘close’ to confirming a suitable location, and further information would be provided to the community shortly.
Mid-Western Regional Council has been reluctant to publicly involve itself in the issue, only saying it supported Return and Earn and wanted to see reverse vending machines at three locations in the region.
“Council is very supportive of the NSW Government’s Return and Earn Program and has advocated for facilities in Mudgee, Gulgong and Rylstone,” a spokesperson said.
The council declined to say whether it was involved in trying to find a new location.
NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton has previously encouraged people to store their containers until they had access to a point.