Return and Earn is partnering with children’s education charity, The Smith Family, hoping to raise $200,000 to help children and young people experiencing disadvantage create better futures through the power of education.
The six-month partnership, running until 18 October 2026, encourages people across NSW to turn bottles into books. Every 30 eligible drink containers recycled will fund one book for a student.
The Smith Family is Australia’s largest children’s education charity, partnering with around 780 Australian schools and supporting almost 72,000 students through the flagship Learning for Life program.
In 2024/25, The Smith Family also reached almost 186,000 children and young people through its evidence-based education programs.
“Education is the key to breaking the cycle of disadvantage,” The Smith Family’s CEO, Doug Taylor says.
“Learning for Life gives students who are experiencing disadvantage the opportunity to make the most of their schooling by providing: financial support for school essentials; access to out-of-school education programs; and personal support from a dedicated Smith Family team member.
“Every 10c refund donated to The Smith Family through Return and Earn machines will make a big difference to the students we support.”
Every eligible bottle and can donated to The Smith Family at a Return and Earn machine, depot or via the Return and Earn app will contribute 10 cents towards the $200,000 fundraising goal.
Reaching the $200,000 fundraising goal means 10,000 book packs, which will help 10,000 disadvantaged students.
“This campaign makes giving back and supporting kids easy,” says James Dorney, CEO, TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator for Return and Earn.
Donating just 30 containers will help put a book in the hands of a young person who needs it, and we encourage communities across NSW to get behind this important cause.”
Since Return and Earn launched in 2017, more than $91 million has been raised through donations and fees from hosting return points.
For more information, visit www.returnandearn.org.au
Media Release: The Smith Family
