Collect, fundraise or donate. Return and Earn makes it convenient and easy for you to support the charities or causes you care about – all while keeping the environment clean and recycling bottles and cans. There are hundreds of official donation partners you can support by donating your container refund. Read on to find out how to donate and learn more about our wonderful donation partners.

Major donation partner

Foodbank Return and Earn fundraising appeal

Foodbank NSW and ACT

Currently, one in three households in NSW are facing hunger and food insecurity. Foodbank NSW and ACT are helping to provide hunger relief to these local families, linking surplus food and groceries to people in need. Return and Earn has partnered with Foodbank NSW and ACT to help them in their mission to end hunger in Australia. For every five bottles, cans or cartons you donate, Foodbank can create one meal.  

From 21 October 2024 until 20 April 2025, you can donate the refunds from your 10c drink containers to Foodbank NSW and ACT. Together, we are aiming to raise $250,000 to help put food on the table for families in need.  

How to donate through Return and Earn

RETURN AND EARN APP

You can select to donate your 10c refund to any charity, school, sports club or local community group featured on the app from any machines or automated depot (using Tag and Drop) in NSW. Simply:

  1. Open your Return and Earn app AND search for your favourite charity under the “CHARITIES” menu
  2. Press on its tile, scroll down and select ‘Set as payout’
  3. Scan your app at your local Return and Earn machine or automated depot (using Tag and Drop)
  4. Return your containers and press “TRANSFER” on the machine screen or follow the steps on the Tag and Drop screen at an automated depot.

100% of the refund will be donated to the donation partner that you selected to receive your payout.

Download the app

RETURN AND EARN MACHINES

You can support our major donation partner by donating directly on the screens of your machines. Simply:

  1. Return your drink containers
  2. Press “DONATE” on the touchscreen to our major charity partner
  3. Press “CONFIRM” to validate your donation. 100% of your refund will be donated to charity.

RETURN AND EARN MACHINES

You can donate to the charities featured on the screen at any machine by:

  1. Return your containers
  2. Select your preferred donation partner on the touchscreen.
  3. Click ‘Donate’.

Their account will be automatically credited with the full amount.

Find your nearest machine

AUTOMATED DEPOTS

Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

You can also donate through the app if you use Tag and Drop. 

AUTOMATED DEPOTS

Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

Find your nearest depot

Check out some of our most active donation partners

Here’s just a snapshot of the types of causes you can support and fundraising campaigns you can donate to.

So open your Return and Earn app today and select to donate to your preferred cause or to the charity, school, sports club or local community group you have a connection with.

1st Budgewoi Scout Group

1st Budgewoi Scout Group

Helping Youth on an Adventurous Journey

Our organisation is raising funds to assist all sections for various items and costs associated with camping and hall maintenance. This campaign will also assist all sections to raise funds to pay part of or all costs to go to camps.

Albury Girl Guides

Albury Girl Guides

Albury Girl Guides Go Places!

Albury Girl Guides are raising funds to support girls and young women with travel costs to make the fun, friendship and adventure of region, state and national Girl Guide events more accessible.

LAOKO Snowy Mountains Wildlife Rescue

Recycling For Snowy Mountains Wildlife

Snowy Mountains Wildlife Rescue LAOKO Inc rescues and cares for orphaned and injured native wildlife until they are ready for release back into their natural environment. LAOKO is a volunteer run, not for profit based in the Snowy Monaro Region of NSW. We operate a 24hr wildlife rescue service for sick/injured/orphaned wildlife and rely on the kind generosity of the public for donations/bequests and support.

Lions Club of Manly

Lions Club of Manly

Funding Community Projects Across the Northern Beaches

Our organisation raises funds for our local Northern Beaches Community with every dollar raised, going back into community projects. In particular our recycling efforts go towards mobility walkers and devices for children and our support of inclusive projects across the surf clubs. We appreciate your contributions and support.

Rotary Summerland Sunrise

Defibrillator for Red Dove Cafe

Red Dove Cafe at 80 Keen Street is a volunteer supported cafe in the heart of Lismore. It also provides in-home deliveries of meals to people who have restricted mobility. In the same building are rooms for community organisations to meet and community exercise classes for active seniors. Before the flood the Cafe had a defibrillator and it was a known community resource for nearby shops in emergencies.

William Dean Public School P&C

William Dean Public School P&C

Educational Equipment and Technology for our Students

William Dean Public School P&C is a passionate group of volunteer parents and community members wanting to do their best to help their local school for their kids. Our P&C organisation is helping out our school to raise funds for some much needed educational equipment and technology for the school.

Find and choose who you want to donate to on the app

An unlimited number of charities, schools, sports club and community groups can be featured on the Return and Earn app. To view the full list and how much your preferred organisation has raised so far, simply open your Return and Earn app, press “Charities” and search for your preferred donation partner. 

Download app

Can’t find your charity?

If your favourite charity, school, sports club or community group isn’t listed as a donation partner, why not let them know they could be raising funds with the Return and Earn scheme?

Interested in fundraising?

Click below to find out how your charity, school, P&C, sports club or community group can start fundraising with Return and Earn.

Fundraise with us

Major appeals and charity campaigns (2019 – 2024)

RFS benevolent Fund

RFS Benevolent Fund

TBC

Youth Off The Streets

$120,000 donated

Protect Our Planet

$158,000 donated

Animal Welfare League NSW

$94,000 donated

Containers for Kids

$122,540 donated

Cans for Koalas

$144,515 donated

Bottles CAN Change Lives

$244,383 donated

Donation success stories

Return and Earn teams up with Little Wings to support seriously ill kids

Return and Earn teams up with Little Wings to support seriously ill kids

Read More
RFS Benevolent Fund

RFS Benevolent Fund giving back to firefighters and families

Read More

Return and Earn exceeds fundraising target for Youth Off The Streets

Read More

Coolamon Lions Club and Junee Correctional Centre join forces to recycle and fund local organisations

Read More
More stories

Donations FAQs

  • Where can I donate?

    You can donate the 10c refund for each eligible container returned at any Return and Earn machine and at select automated depots in NSW. Find your closest return point on the map.

  • How do I donate to local charities and fundraising appeals through Return and Earn?

    There are hundreds of charities and fundraising appeals listed on the Return and Earn app. You can donate your refunds to them when you recycle using the app at all Return and Earn machine or any participation Return and Earn depots that offer the Tag and Drop bag-drop service.  

    Download the Return and Earn app today. 

  • What is a donation partner?

    A donation partner is a not-for-profit organisation that has been approved to be featured either on the touch screen or on the app to receive donations from the Return and Earn community.

    Types of organisations that are listed as donation partners include charities, schools, sporting clubs, community and special interest clubs and groups. Political causes or organisations are not permitted to become donation partners.

  • Do I have to use a machine to donate?

    You need to return your containers at a Return and Earn machine in order to donate either on the touchscreen or through the app.

    Some automated depots also support charities and allow you to donate your refunds directly. Enquire with your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.

    Or you can donate through the Return and Earn app through Tag and Drop.

    Find your nearest automated depot and their contact details on the map.

  • Do I need to use the Return and Earn app to donate?

    No but the app features many donation partners and causes you can choose from.   

    You can also donate your refunds to the major donation partner featured on the touchscreen of your closest Return and Earn machine. 

    Simply return your containers and when you’re done, select ‘donate’ on the screen. Or visit your nearest automated depot to check which charities they support.  

  • I want to donate to a charity or cause who are not listed as a donation partner. What do I do?

    You can get in touch with the charity, not-for-profit organisation, school, sports club or community group that you’d like to donate to and suggest they sign up! For more information, visit TOMRA’s website here.

  • How much money goes to my chosen donation partner?

    100% of the donated refund goes to your chosen donation partner.

  • How do I change my default payout method on the app?

    In the middle of the home screen, you will see “Your active payout” which will either state “PayPal”, “Digital Voucher” or a campaign name. By clicking on this white box, you will open up a list of all payout methods available. Here you can select your default payout for all future payments until this is changed.

  • Can I get a tax receipt for my donation?

    You can receive a tax receipt for donations if the charity you donate to has obtained the Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Tax Office.

    You can donate directly on the touch screen to support our selected major donation partner at any Return and Earn machine.  Our major donation partner has DGR status, so if you donate $2 or more, the machine will issue a tax receipt.

    If you donate through the Return and Earn app at any machine or depot, you can obtain a receipt of all the donations made to charities with DGR status.

  • Can I keep track of my donations?

    You can keep track of the donations you have made on the Return and Earn app.

    To access your records, open the app and click on ‘Charities’. Go to the ‘My Donations’ tab on the left-hand side to view a summary of all donations made through the app.

    Scroll down to see each individual campaign you’ve donated to and how much you’ve contributed to each one of them.

    To view your whole recycling history using the app, click ‘Refunds’ on your homepage and you will be able to view all of your donations and other types of refunds that  you received via the app.

  • How do I apply to get my organisation or fundraising appeal listed as a donation partner on the Return and Earn app?

    To register your charity, community group or not-for-profit click HERE and do not hesitate to contact our team at donations.nsw@tomra.com should you have any queries.  

    You can also see the “charity” app feature in action by downloading the FREE Return and Earn app here. 

  • Why do I only see one charity on the screen at a machine?

    Every six months, Return and Earn runs a state-wide donations appeal in partnership with a not-for-profit organisation. The donation option on screens at Return and Earn machines is reserved for promoting this appeal to encourage incidental donations when people are recycling.  

    Unlike the screens, the Return and Earn app can host an unlimited number of charities and fundraising appeals, offering recyclers more choice in who they donate their refunds to.  

  • What are the benefits of being listed on the Return and Earn App as a donation partner?
    • Receive donations from supporters across NSW. 
    • Put your cause in front of hundreds of thousands of active Return and Earn app users and potential donors. 
    • Receive weekly donations reports directly to your inbox and automated payments.  
    • Access the user-friendly charity online platform for easy on-boarding process to get your campaign listed quickly on the Return and Earn app. 
    • Enjoy control and flexibility over managing your campaign, including for messaging and duration.  
    • Review and update your details at any time. 
    • Renew your campaign indefinitely. 

    Access the user-friendly online platform to review and update your campaign at any time, along with automated weekly reports and payments.