Menai Marketplace has become the second location in Sutherland Shire where residents can obtain a 10 cents refund on eligible drink bottle, cans and cartons through a reverse vending machine.
Two machines, which are part of the state government’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme, have begun operating in the shopping centre’s car park near Plus Petrol, accessed via Allison Crescent.
The facility is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
One of the reverse vending machines (RVMs) takes glass containers and the other is for lightweight material containers, such as PET and aluminium.
Most drink containers between 150 millilitres and three litres are eligible for the refund.
The first RVMs began operating in the car park of Cronulla Leagues Club and Southern Cross Group Stadium on Monday.
A third site, at Sutherland, is expected to be announced in the next fortnight.
Jacqui Bell, the centre manager at Menai Marketplace, which is managed by Lendlease, said it was an ideal location for RVMs.
“We are centrally located, with convenient access to parking and retail redemption partners,” she said.
Customers can donate their refund directly to selected charities – Cancer Council, St Vincent de Paul, Surf Life Saving NSW and Planet Ark – or receive the refund via electronic payment to their registered account.
Alternatively, they can choose to receive a credit voucher towards shopping at Woolworths or redeem it for cash in a Woolworths supermarkets.
