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How people rummaging through bins are 'earning up to $2000-a-week'


Homeowners have filmed people rummaging through recycling cans following the introduction of refund schemes.

Video aired on Weekend Sunrise shows a man in a cap carrying a garbage bag looking through a recycling bin during the day.

Others are seen searching through bins at night with one person seen walking up to large industrial-sized bins and another searching on the street.

There are reports people are cashing in up to $2000 of refundable containers in a week.

A bin rummager works during the night. Source: 7 News
A bin rummager works during the night. Source: 7 News

It follows the introduction of state bottle deposit schemes which offer money for recyclable goods.

In NSW, it is known as the Return and Earn scheme which was rolled out in December 2017.

The scheme allows anyone who deposits, glass, liquid paperboard, steel, aluminum, glass PET or HDPE 10 cents per container.

Queensland has a similar scheme as do the Northern Territory, South Australia and the ACT.

Local Government Association of NSW president Linda Scott said “it’s a good thing” people were cleaning up litter and recycling it, but “technically” no one should be going through private bins.

Bin bandits have been filmed taking recyclable goods from bins. Source: 7 News
Bin bandits have been filmed taking recyclable goods from bins. Source: 7 News

“Councils legally do own what’s in that bin, but ultimately the goal here is to increase recycling,” she said.

Many Facebook users did not seem to take issue with people rummaging through their recycling bins.

One man said he did not have a problem with it “as long as nothing left on the nature strip”.

“Lots of people collect cans to cash in for their favourite charities,” he wrote.

Residents in several Australian states can hand in plastic bottles for money. Source: Getty Images (file pic)
Residents in several Australian states can hand in plastic bottles for money. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

One woman wrote she was considering getting a plastic tub and leaving bottles out the front of her home for anyone who wants to collect them.

However, some had concerns about whether anyone going through the recycling bin might also probe their other waste receptacle.

“I’m not in agreement with people going through bins because of other things that might have personal details being in there,” one woman wrote.

Kids cashing in

Sydney mum Colette Silva’s children started The Bottle Kids club.

The club takes calls from residents who are looking to get rid of their recyclables and then collects them before cashing in.

Ms Silva’s son Giovanni said collecting was “pretty fun”.

“We have a money box with three compartments – spend, save and donate,” he said.

“Our spend is just everyday money so whenever we go to the shops we can take some of the money from that to spend.”

They are not the only ones cashing in on recycling either.

Queensland woman Leonie Starr told Yahoo7 in November she was trying to collect 800,000 bottles to pay for her dream wedding in Vanuatu.

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