The new Return and Earn 10 cents deposit scheme is being credited with a reduction in the number of cans and bottles found in a bush reserve at Menai.
About 20 volunteers collected rubbish from Menai Conservation Park in a project which was hosted by Club Central Menai for Clean Up Australia Day.
Club staff were joined by president Brian Cloney, Sutherland Shire Mayor Carmelo Pesce and Deputy Mayor Peter Scaysbrook and members of Project Youth and Sutherland Shire Bushcare.
Menai Conservation Park is adjacent to the club and Menai Metro and behind the indoor sports centre.
“This was the first clean-up of the reserve we have organised for Clean Up Australia Day, but Bushcare volunteers attend the site twice a month to clean up and weed,” a club spokeswoman said.
“Three shopping trolleys, an old BMX bike and lots of rubbish were removed.
“A lot of takeaway food waste is generally found in the park.
“However the Bushcare coordinator and regular volunteers mentioned that they were pleasantly surprised as there was less rubbish than usual in the reserve.
“They attributed that to more people keeping or collecting plastic bottles and taking them to the Return and Earn drop off at Menai Marketplace, rather than them being discarded in the park.
“We’re hoping to make this an annual clean up as it was a great way to connect our groups and work together to make the area look and feel better.”
The club says the clean-up was part of its “commitment to being a sustainable business in the local area”.
“We have a Green Team with staff from all parts of the club who challenge the business to become more environmentally friendly,” the spokeswoman said.
“So far the Green Team has implemented a comprehensive recycling program for all paper, cardboard, glass, cooking oil, plastic bottles and metal.
“If it’s recyclable we are doing it.
“All administration areas, back of house wash up areas, kitchens and the TAB are now recycling all waste consistently.”
The spokeswoman said 50 per cent of total waste was recycled.
“Club Central has also introduced a food processing unit called ORCA, which ‘digests’ up to 110 kilograms of food waste per day,” she said.
“ Within 24 hours, this technology turns food waste into environmentally safe water that flows straight into the sewage system.”
