St Vincent de Paul Society Australia genetic logo

The St Vincent de Paul Society offers over 200 services that help people in need.

Safeguarding

Find Help

Membership NSW

Volunteering NSW

Careers NSW

Join the Social Justice Network

Vinnies Service Medallion

Vinnies Youth NSW

Donations of goods and services NSW

Gifts in Wills

Philanthropy

Fundraise for Vinnies NSW

Clothing drives, toy collections and food hampers

Corporate partnerships NSW

Financial donations NSW

Sponsorship NSW

Cause related marketing campaigns NSW

Workplace giving - community support NSW

Vinnies and the Return and Earn Scheme

Vinnies Bag O Rags

Vinnies re/CYCLE range

Vinnies Used Cooking Oil Recycling (VUCOR)

Get involved

Get Involved

<h1>Vinnies Shops</h1>
Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community.

Vinnies Shops

Shops

Social Justice Statements

Reports and Submissions

Modern Anti-Slavery Statements

Reconciliation Action Plan

Uluru Statement Resources

Energy NSW

Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Advocacy

About us

Contact Us

History NSW

NSW Strategic Plan

Leadership NSW

Policies NSW

Mission and Formation

About Us

News and stories

NSW Media Releases

Vision Magazine

Impact Magazine

NSW Blog

Your Kind of Good Magazine

NSW Disaster Reports

NSW Annual Reports

News and Stories

| Vinnies

Home

ACT & surrounds

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

National Council

SVdP Housing Australia

From Cheer to Change: Vinnies Expecting Holiday Surge in Return and Earn Customers

Vinnies is reminding NSW residents to recycle their drink containers through <a href="/nsw/get-involved/vinnies-and-the-return-and-earn-scheme" title="Vinnies and the Return and Earn Scheme">Vinnies-operated Return and Earn depots</a> during this Christmas and New Year period. 
People who return their eligible bottles and cans can claim the 10c container refunds, which could be vital for some families who are struggling in the current cost-of-living crisis to find the additional funds they need at this time of the year. 
“In past years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of people using the Vinnies Return and Earn depots over the Christmas break. We’re expecting to see the same this year,” says Mitch Saddler, Director of Commercial Enterprise at St Vincent de Paul Society NSW. 
“Christmas parties and family get-togethers can generate large volumes of containers, and our depots have a convenient drive-through service which can process up to 100 containers a minute without you sorting plastics from glass. This makes it easy for people who are bringing in large loads of recyclables.” 
“It’s a great way for our customers to earn some extra money at a time of year that can be very expensive for some people.” 
In 2023, the containers being processed throughout the Vinnies-operated Return and Earn depots increased in November and December, with the numbers of containers processed up to 35% higher than in the winter months. 
New depots in <a href="/nsw/shops/griffith-return-n-earn" title="Griffith Return n Earn">Griffith</a> and <a href="/nsw/shops/maitland-return-n-earn" title="Maitland Return n Earn">Maitland</a>, which opened to the public this year, have allowed even more people access to the container deposit sites operated by Vinnies around NSW. Last financial year, Vinnies processed more than 130 million containers, providing $13 million in refunds for customers. 
“We’ve recently seen a few older residents bringing in their grandchildren to raise some extra pocket money to buy their Christmas gifts,” says Mr. Saddler. “It’s heartwarming to see how people in our local communities are able to benefit from the Return and Earn scheme, especially around the holiday season”. 
As a return point operator, Vinnies receives a handling fee for every container processed through its facilities. This has become an important revenue stream for St Vincent de Paul Society which is reinvested into the community through our programs and services.

Rich Text

From Cheer to Change: Vinnies Expecting Holiday Surge in Return and Earn Customers 