We’ve all been there; cracking open a cold drink on a scorching Aussie day, savouring every sip from a glass bottle, plastic bottle, aluminum can, or juice carton. But what happens after that last drop? Do you toss it in the bin, or do you give it a second life?
At City Return and Earn, we’re here to make recycling easy, rewarding, and impactful. Every eligible container you drop off at our depots in New South Wales, such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and cardboard juice cartons, starts a fascinating journey toward sustainability.
This year, we recycled 142,909,158 eligible containers at our City Return and Earn Mascot depot and 7,293,627 at the Silverwater one, totaling more than 150.2 million mixed containers that have been kept out of landfills. So, what happens to these recycled bottles and other containers? Let’s dive into the recycling process and explore how your everyday choices help shape a greener future.
What Happens to Plastic Bottles?
Plastic bottle with lid
When you drop off your plastic bottles at a City Return and Earn depot, they’re in for a transformation. First, our team sorts them using advanced machinery that scans barcodes to confirm eligibility for the 10-cent refund under the NSW Return and Earn scheme. Eligible plastic bottles; typically made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are separated from other materials like glass and aluminum.
Next, they’re crushed and baled into compact blocks, making them easier to transport. These bales are sent to specialised recycling facilities where the plastic is shredded into tiny flakes, washed, and melted down. This process, turns old bottles into raw material for new products. In Australia, recycled PET can become anything from new beverage bottles to clothing fibers, construction materials, or even playground equipment. By dropping off your plastic bottles with us, you’re helping reduce landfill waste and the demand for virgin plastic, keeping our planet cleaner, one bottle at a time.
What About the Lids?
A collection of colorful bottle lids
Those pesky plastic lids deserve a mention too! At City Return and Earn, we encourage you to keep lids on your bottles when you drop them off as it helps ensure they’re recycled properly. Once collected, lids (often made from HDPE or polypropylene) are separated during the sorting process. They’re then shredded, cleaned, and melted into pellets that manufacturers use to create new lids, containers, or even durable items like outdoor furniture. Recycling lids alongside bottles maximises the impact of your efforts, so don’t toss them aside. Bring them to us!
What Happens to Glass Bottles?
Empty beer bottles
Glass bottles are recycling superstars, and at City Return and Earn, we make the most of them. After you drop them off, our sorting system identifies eligible glass containers such as beer bottles, juice bottles, or soft drink bottles, and separates them from other materials. These bottles are then crushed into small pieces called cullet, a process you can see in this video.
The cullet is cleaned and sorted by color (clear, green, or brown) before being sent to glass recycling plants. There, it’s melted at high temperatures and molded into new bottles or jars. Because glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused endlessly without losing quality, every bottle you return could become a new one on store shelves in just a few weeks. Plus, recycling glass reduces the need to mine raw materials like sand, saving energy and cutting emissions. It’s a win-win for you and the environment!
What Happens to Aluminum Cans?
An aluminum can being processed for recycling
Aluminum cans are a recycling success story, and we’re proud to play a big role in their journey at City Return and Earn. Once dropped off, they’re sorted, crushed, and baled into cubes, ready for the next step. Want the full scoop on how this lightweight metal gets a new lease on life? Check out our detailed blog post, “Aluminum Can Recycling: Importance, Impact, and How-To’s”, where we break down the process, from collection to rebirth as new cans in as little as 4-8 weeks. By recycling your cans with us, you’re supporting a circular economy and reducing the environmental footprint of aluminum production.
What Happens to Cardboard?
Mix of recyclable containers in a machine at Mascot depot
Those handy cardboards (often called liquid paperboard) might look simple, but they’re a bit more complex to recycle. Made from layers of cardboard, plastic, and sometimes aluminum foil, they require special handling. At City Return and Earn, we collect these eligible containers like milk cartons or juice boxes, and send them to facilities equipped to separate their components.
The process starts with pulping: the cartons are soaked in water to break down the paper fibers, leaving the plastic and aluminum behind. The paper pulp is then turned into new cardboard products, like boxes or tissues, while the plastic and aluminum scraps are recycled into items like roofing tiles or building materials. This multi-step journey ensures that every layer of your juice carton finds a new purpose, keeping waste out of landfills.
Why It Matters, and How You Can Help
Aluminium cans and plastic bottles with lids
Every container you drop off at City Return and Earn does more than just earn you a 10-cent refund, it fuels a sustainable cycle that benefits our planet and communities. From plastic bottles reborn as clothing to glass bottles remade endlessly, your efforts reduce waste, conserve resources, and cut emissions. Wondering how to recycle in Sydney? It’s simple with our services, whether you’re a resident, business, or event organiser in the Sydney metro area. Plus, by partnering with the NSW Return and Earn scheme, we’ve already kept millions of containers out of landfills, and with your help, that number keeps growing.
Ready to join the recycling revolution? It’s as easy as bringing your eligible containers such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and juice cartons, to one of our recycling depots NSW. We’ve got two convenient locations to serve you:
Can’t make it to one of our Recycling Depots or prefer a more convenient option? We offer collection bins that you can fill at your own pace. Once they’re full, our team will pick them up, count your containers, and process your refund—hassle-free. Learn more and order your bins today!
Take Action Today for a Greener Tomorrow
Join us in our mission to reduce environmental impact and build a greener community for generations to come.