A Success Story of Community Involvement

Making a Tangible Difference Through Community Involvement

City Return and Earn has always been more than just a recycling initiative. At its core, it’s about making a tangible difference in our local community, particularly among the Aboriginal population. In partnership with the KARI Foundation, we have created a program that not only encourages recycling but also reinvests in the community. Through this collaboration, individuals contribute to charitable causes while empowering local Indigenous communities, ensuring that our efforts go beyond environmental impact and foster social growth.

The KARI Foundation: A Catalyst for Empowerment

The KARI Foundation is one of Australia's leading Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations, dedicated to providing critical support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities. Our collaboration with KARI Foundation is driven by a shared mission: to empower Indigenous individuals through meaningful employment opportunities and social impact initiatives.

Programs such as the ‘Back to School’ initiative and driving lessons are just some of the ways we aim to support and uplift the local Indigenous population. By offering these services, we are not only fostering education and skill development but also opening doors to employment and greater economic participation. Together with KARI, we are committed to creating meaningful change and supporting the holistic development of our community.

Raising $30,000 for Aboriginal Charity Through Container Recycling

One of the standout successes of our partnership has been the significant funds raised for the KARI Foundation through container recycling at major NSW events. In collaboration with Clean Vibes, a sustainable waste management company, over $30,000 has been raised for the KARI Foundation. This was achieved by collecting containers at entertainment venues and festivals across New South Wales, demonstrating the powerful impact that recycling initiatives can have when aligned with community-focused goals.

Clean Vibes, which owns and operates the City Return and Earn automated depot, played a crucial role in this achievement. By ensuring that large volumes of containers collected at these events were efficiently sorted and processed, Clean Vibes enabled the sale of recyclable materials, thereby generating significant funds for the KARI Foundation.

The Impact of the City Return and Earn Partnership

The partnership between City Return and Earn, Clean Vibes, and the KARI Foundation is more than just a financial success. It represents a model of how businesses and community organisations can work together to achieve triple bottom line gains—social, environmental, and economic benefits.

“At KARI Foundation, we understand that when we empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, we empower entire communities. This generous donation from Clean Vibes will allow us to continue our critical work and make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.” Ms. Ralph.

KARI Foundation CEO Casey Ralph expressed deep gratitude for the donation, highlighting how the funds will help empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Clean Vibes owner, Andrew Macarthur, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the alignment of the partnership with the company’s core values of sustainability and social impact. “By partnering with KARI, we are also making a positive impact on people’s lives by providing employment opportunities for Aboriginal people. We are so proud to be able to hand over the funds raised from these events to KARI,” said Mr. Macarthur.

The Broader Impact of Return and Earn in NSW

The success of City Return and Earn is part of a larger story of how the NSW Container Deposit Scheme has benefited communities across the state. According to Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, the coordinator of the NSW Container Deposit Scheme, over 9 billion containers have been returned through the network since its inception in December 2017. This has not only resulted in a cleaner environment but has also enabled charities and community groups to raise substantial funds.

James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway, the network operator for Return and Earn, highlighted that more than $42 million has been returned to charities and community groups through the scheme. “This automated depot and partnership show how triple bottom line gains can be achieved through the NSW container deposit scheme,” said Mr. Dorney.

A Brighter Future Through Collaboration

The partnership between City Return and Earn, Clean Vibes, and the KARI Foundation is a powerful example of how community involvement, environmental sustainability, and social impact can come together to create lasting change. As we look to the future, we are committed to continuing this collaboration, empowering more communities, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children. Together, we are not just recycling containers—we are recycling hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for all.