A second Return and Earn reverse vending machine will soon be installed in Dubbo but one resident says he would like even more in the city.
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On Thursday, the Dubbo Sustainable City Facebook page announced a second reverse vending machine would be coming soon.
“[Dubbo Regional] Council is currently working with TOMRA Cleanaway to have one installed in a location at West Dubbo - not at Delroy Woolworths as previously rumoured. More details to come,” the post said.
The reverse vending machines are part of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme. The scheme aims for the volume of litter to be cut by 40 per cent by 2020.
However, Les Jones said two machines were not enough for Dubbo.
“We need more. It takes the whole area in. It’s not just Dubbo and the 50,000-odd people who live in Dubbo. You’ve got Narromine and Gilgandra and all the people who live on properties,” he said.
The current machine, which is located in Victoria Park near the Med’s Shed, is already heavily utilised.
“You come down every afternoon and they’re not working properly. They’re either full or they’re out of order. Since Christmas I’ve been here about 15 times and out of the 15 probably about 11 of them they’re full or out of order,” he said.
A poll on the Daily Liberal website found 28.48 per cent of readers had already used the machine. Another 47.27 per cent said they hadn’t used it yet but were planning to, while 24.24 per cent said they wouldn’t use it.
Mr Jones said he was also unimpressed by the increase in drink prices as a result of the Container Deposit Scheme.
“They don’t mind charging 17 cents extra for a bottle of drink but they shouldn’t have done that until all the machines were in,” he said.
Initially there were also concerns about rubbish being dumped around the machine. However, additional bins have since been added to the site.
A post by Dubbo Sustainable City said it was great to see the machine getting so much use.
“As Council is hosting the machine some cleaning of the area is Included in Council's contract. However, any issues relating to the facility should be reported to Tomra Cleanaway who should make appropriate arrangements. It is important for them to know what issues are occurring,” it said.
Most 150 millilitre to three litre containers are eligible for the 10 cent refund, as long as they are made from glass, plastic, aluminium, steel or liquid cardboard. When containers are returned they should be empty, uncrushed and have the original label intact.