Does Anyone Recycle Bottles at The Recycle Station for 10c a Bottle?

dabs on 15/11/2022 - 11:43
Last edited 15/11/2022 - 11:53 by 1 other user

I have saved up a lot of water bottles that I drink at work (~15 bags) and have attempted to use the recycle machines for Woollies vouchers.

But after around 50 bottles in (1 bag), the machine says that my session was interrupted and came to an end. Machine is offline and not working and resets after around 15 minutes.

I was wondering whether anyone else has experienced the same issue?

After around 3-4 times of this (1.5 hours in and only 4 bags done), I gave up and went home.

Tried again last weekend at the station where there were 4 machines, and still kept of getting the same error and gave up again.

Are the water bottles causing the issue?

Home & Garden Recycling

Comments

  • coffeeinmyveins on 15/11/2022 - 11:46
    +41

    I have saved up a lot of water bottles that I drink at work (~15 bags)

    After around 3-4 times of this (1.5 hours in and only 4 bags done), I gave up and went home.

    Few points.

    1) Why are you drinking so many water bottles? You do realise that Australia has some of the best tap water on Earth?

    2) 15 bags, 50 bottles per bag (by your own admission) means that total is about $75 worth. You've already spent 1.5hours (plus travel), is this really a worthwhile endeavour?

    • dabs on 15/11/2022 - 11:48
      +3

      No water supply at work so I have to buy bottled water. I think for $75, it would have been worth for 30 mintutes. But due these errors, it's taking a very long time…

      • coffeeinmyveins on 15/11/2022 - 11:49
        +48

        Over what period of time did you purchase 750 water bottles? That's $1500.

        Get yourself a 4L gym bottle and bring it from home, save yourself $1500.

        Also I'm pretty sure that it's a legal requirement that your workplace make available the basics, which includes drinkable water. At an absolute minimum if you're having to buy your own water (doubtful) then it would be a business expense.

          • whiskeyjack89 on 16/11/2022 - 22:50
            +73

            @dabs: Please find a better way, for your wallet, your health, and the environment

          • bobwokeup on 16/11/2022 - 23:14
            +16

            @dabs: How did anyone upvote this comment 🤦🏽‍♂️
            Not only is it not the OzBargain way, it’s a huge waste of money and most importantly it’s terrible for the environment.

          • kalithreaver on 17/11/2022 - 14:45
            +3

            @dabs: what an absolute waste of money and plastic waste. at least buy some reusable bottles and fill them at home. it would have saved you $300.

          • Menzoberranzan on 17/11/2022 - 16:00
            +5

            @dabs: Mate have you heard of taking a refillable water bottle from home?

          • coffeeinmyveins on 17/11/2022 - 16:23

            @dabs: Where are you getting bottles of water for 40 cents from coles/woolies?

            as others have said, get a refillable bottle, and send your boss those links about what they need to supply you.

            • Antikythera on 18/11/2022 - 10:11
              +2

              @coffeeinmyveins: we normally buy water for our venue from Coke @ 8.40 per 24 x 600ml bottles. 35c per bottle
              we missed a Coke order last week so i grabbed some from woolies for 6.40 per 24 x 600ml = 26.6c per bottle
              we actually have 10% staff discount so = 24c per bottle

              just checked and the woolies regular price is 9.75 so 40.6c per bottle (story checks out)

        • stuffisok on 17/11/2022 - 09:39
          +1

          Here's a link in case he's missing any other basic requirements! (Water is under personal facilities tab)

          https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/safety-starts-here/physical-…

          https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/…

      • Drakesy on 15/11/2022 - 11:54
        +6

        Maybe grab a water jug

        Would be cheaper and create less waste

          • Randolph Duke on 16/11/2022 - 14:21
            +24

            @Willy Beamish: What sort of point is this? "Oh they were going to make it anyway"?

            The point is if less people consume bottled water, less will be made. And whilst 1 person may not change a production run, there's still no need to be wasteful - not to mention the cost.

              • Drakesy on 17/11/2022 - 19:17
                +4

                @Willy Beamish: Supply and demand, basice economics?

                Take away the demand and the supply will fall off.

            • LordM00 on 19/11/2022 - 09:06
              +3

              @Randolph Duke: Normally one person wouldn't change a production run, but this guy's using so many that maybe he has a chance lmao

      • Cyphar on 19/11/2022 - 10:29
        +1

        No water supply at work so I have to buy bottled water.

        Buy a water cannister - $20, a tap for $7 and fill it up at home, keep in the car. Fill your water bottle with that. You'll make the money back in a few days.

    • supersabroso on 17/11/2022 - 23:55
      +2

      Yes it's worthwhile, recycling is a really good thing. If he's a hardcore recycler like us then his recycling bin will always be full.

    • S92WTB on 18/11/2022 - 15:44

      Tell me you don't live in South Australia, without telling me…

  • Porker on 15/11/2022 - 11:47
    +2

    Maybe contact the recycling station (or operator/owner of machine) and ask them what's wrong with their machine?

    • dabs on 15/11/2022 - 11:49

      I've tried contacting Tomra but I think even they don't know how to deal with it. They just advised to wait 15 mintues like the message showing on the screen of the machine.

  • afoveht on 15/11/2022 - 11:49
    +10

    I do it with the kids - it gives them extra pocket money.

    However the past couple of times I have arrived at the recycle station a bit later (like after 8 or 9PM) and it has been closed. The other night I tried the local, it was closed, and then went to the next one (which the website said was open) and it too was closed. Probably spent more in petrol than it's worth.

    I've sorta had enough of this hassle - closed stations, sometimes having to wait for the slowcoaches in front of me, having to keep bulky bags full of containers that could otherwise be crushed and easily put in the recycle bin, etc. What a PITA.

    • Will32 on 18/11/2022 - 08:24

      You can check on the app if the station is open or closed - even if the glass is closed but plastic/cans is open!
      The machines often fill up (or some idiot tries to jam something in the wrong way) so I always check it's open before I put them all in the car and drive over.

      Also, stations in residential areas will close earlier, to reduce noise complaints. The glass bottles dropping into the bins inside the machine are pretty loud!

  • payless69 on 15/11/2022 - 11:50
    +2

    please make a poll!

    • sween64 on 19/11/2022 - 00:54

      And an MS Paint drawing

  • justdigi on 15/11/2022 - 11:52
    +15

    What state is this? Because here in Queensland, I just fill up garbage bags with my bottles, put on a sticky label with my scheme ID and either drop them off or use the app to arrange for them to be collected for free and the money turns up in my bank account a week later.

    • dabs on 15/11/2022 - 11:53
      +2

      That's really convenient. I'm in NSW.

      • Summoner on 15/11/2022 - 12:10
        +4

        I used to love the bag and drop off service they offer.
        Howerver, recently the number of bottles that i dropped off were starting to disappear (eg. I drop off 300 and the receipt says i dropped of 250). Their online support is generally good, that when you contact them and provide few evidence they request, they will credit your accout. So i have been contacting them over and over again everytime i dropped off a bag, then i finally gave up. So the convenience comes with some toll.

        I ended up going back to the machine to have those refunded. But i have never had any issues with the machine when feeding it.

        • pointblank on 18/11/2022 - 22:46

          I experienced the same thing. They always undercounted the number of bottles.

      • Mrbean007 on 15/11/2022 - 12:34
        +2

        There is a place in villawood saves the hassle of putting them individually where you just dump the bottles in saves time im sure theres more around.

        https://www.hoxtonindustries.com.au/return-and-earn-near-me/

      • SteveBuscemi on 17/11/2022 - 17:33
        +4

        In the St George and Sutherland Shires, Randwick/Coogee/Maroubra etc. you can buy a blue or purple bin and you just lodge a pickup request online when it's full and they swap it out and credit your bank account.

        https://www.scrapmetal.sydney/about/collection-service/
        http://purplebins.com.au/

    • Fergy1987 on 15/11/2022 - 11:58
      +3

      Uhhhhh wait? this is a thing? I've been feeding those machines like a loser!

      Can I use any kind of bag? - where am I throwing these giant bags?

      Glass too?

      • Summoner on 15/11/2022 - 12:21
        +6

        If you are in QLD, you can jump on to Containers for Change to search for bag drop off locations near you.

        You can use your own bag. But if you wanna reduce waste, you can visit one of the drop off depot(the warehouse with staff, not the machine only location) to get some of their drop off bags (large mesh bag with their logo on it). There are times they are out of bags, but i was able to get them most of times.

        You can use drop off for all types of recyclable containers as long as you do not mix the containers. Keep the can, glass, and plastic in the seperate bag.

      • Flying Ace on 16/11/2022 - 15:09

        Don't worry - I am a loser too for standing at the damn machine and feeding in my bottles and cans. The home collection sounds great!

    • solidussnake on 15/11/2022 - 19:37

      Yeah exactly what I do ! let someone else who gets paid to do it for ya lol

  • apsilon on 15/11/2022 - 11:53

    I'd say it's a problem with the specific machine more than anything else. Try a different location.

    • dabs on 15/11/2022 - 11:54

      I have tried 3 different locations unfortunately.

      What's even more weird is that there's often people with large amount of cans who have no issue putting in ~300 bottles in one go without an error.

      Not sure whether it's due to me putting in only water bottles that's causing the issue.

      • apsilon on 15/11/2022 - 11:58

        Doubtful as I do mostly water bottles as mum refuses to use tap water in the kettle (claims she gets a lot of scale/calcium deposits from it which ruins the kettle) and can't lift large bottles or work the press tap on the 10l containers so I buy the smaller ones for her to use. Did about 120 bottles into the machine just this morning without issue.

        • kiitos on 16/11/2022 - 07:42
          +7

          Seems she'd be able to replace her kettle regularly and still save money compared to buying so many bottles of water.

          • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 07:57
            +6

            @kiitos: You obviously haven't had to deal with elderly people. Trying to convince them of something when they've already made a decision just isn't worth the time and arguments. I also think it may be closer than you think. $80 kettle, same $80 will get you 20 slabs of water. Replacing the kettle once a year would cost more and I can guarantee she'd want to replace it more often as she has a glass kettle so she can see what it looks like inside easily.

            • djk on 16/11/2022 - 08:09
              +1

              @apsilon: We just got a tipping kettle for Mum and my brother descales it when he visits every two months. Can totally relate to the decision making comment though.

              • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 08:16

                @djk: Hadn't seen those tipping kettles, seem like a good idea. Don't think mum would go for one though, it was hard enough to find the current kettle as she wanted something with an opening large enough to get inside to clean it (you'd be surprised how few kettles can meet this requirement) and be glass so she could see inside and then be small and light enough to be able to lift it. The Breville compact is the best option I've found but it is on the heavier side for her.

                • danyool on 16/11/2022 - 13:17

                  @apsilon: Have you tried chucking in some lemon skins after you've juiced them? Fill with water and boil, then discard. Makes ours shiny

                  • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 15:34
                    +1

                    @danyool: No, I generally use bi carb and white vinegar which would be the same sort of acidic solution. I'll have to remember to try it with lemon skins.

            • kiitos on 16/11/2022 - 22:18
              +1

              @apsilon: No, I've obviously been dealing with different elderly people, that grew up in hardship and as a result are particular with how they spend and save money.

            • capslock janitor on 17/11/2022 - 22:48

              @apsilon: teach her how to lemon/vinegar+baking soda the heck out the inside of it as maintenance

            • Smol Cat on 18/11/2022 - 11:16

              @apsilon: You know you can clean your kettles??? Some diluted vinegar and allow it to boil, literally no effort. WTF is with all the people in here who love buying these plastic bottles.The worlds going down the drain thanks too their illogical attitude.

  • mapax on 15/11/2022 - 11:58

    Just PM Pam, she’s an expert.

  • Hellfire on 15/11/2022 - 11:58
    +2

    Is there are a return and earn centre near you (not the vending machine)?

    That's where I go when I've got lots of bottles. You just hand over the bottles to a man who puts them through in bulk. Takes much less time and easier.

  • brad1-8tsi on 15/11/2022 - 12:03
    +3

    i do ~$20 worth at a time at the local Tomra machine. Never had an issue.

    I have the money put in my PayPal as I did see a woman put in $40 worth and the voucher printer jammed.

    Up until recently I regularly worked semi-remote with no water on site. We'd just fill a dozen reusable water bottles at the hotel before we left.

    My recent camping trip we were taking 20-40 litres with us when we were "wild camping" for a few nights.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 15/11/2022 - 12:46
      +3

      I've always used paypal. Far easier, didn't fade, can't be lost, and saves a trip to woolworths.

      • whyisave on 18/11/2022 - 07:56
        +1

        Won't the government track that money, going into your Paypal ?

        Technically, returns netting $150+ need to be declared.

        Returns of 1500 containers or more will require you to sign a declaration and provide photo identification such as your Driver’s Licence.

        • NigelPearson on 19/11/2022 - 18:09
          +1

          The government could track it, but I don't think it counts as income.
          (i.e. if the recycler is returning their own bottles,
          it is a refund of money they have already spent)

          Thanks. Didn't know about that $150 technicality.
          (Sort of like the rules for recycling scrap metal?)

          I once managed to bulk recycle $105 from my little station wagon,
          but $150 would be a small van, or enclosed trailer, full !

          • whyisave on 19/11/2022 - 18:51
            +1

            @NigelPearson:

            could track it, but I don't think it counts as income.

            I just know that Gumtree, FB, eBay … all track how many 'sales' you make
            (which is why FB asks you if you have sold an item afterwards, etc.).
            Even if selling 2nd-hand junk around your house, and then those 'sales'
            hit a certain threshold, it gets reported to the relevant 3-letter agency.

            So, going by that, I just find that any recording / tracking of money flow,
            can have other implications, when the time comes.

            $150 would be a small van, or enclosed trailer, full !

            1,500 cans is a lot …and you're right, it would be a whole car-full of cans !

            I've only returned about 300 cans/bottles as my maximum,
            and this already filled up my small hatchback car.

  • xazark on 15/11/2022 - 12:06
    +2

    I have to say, no wonder people dont bother with this, my parents do it and they can often wait upwards of an hour to get through the queue, with some people bringing trailer loads to process, which fills up the machine and then have to wait for the truck to come and empty it. So they store them up and process them ~3-4 times a year, but it means they have a garage full of bottles & cans. Seems like a lot of effort for a small amount of money and is not really providing the incentive to recycle that it is supposed to be

    • greatlamp on 18/11/2022 - 07:51
      +1

      The scheme is a failure, from memory less than 15% of bottles are claimed. The only benefit is that you don't have to pay council workers to pick up bottles as someone trapped in poverty will be doing it for the 10c.

      It's even more wasteful when you consider the scheme encourages aluminium to be recycled, which would be profitable to recycle regardless. Meanwhile soft plastic goes to landfill as it's not economical to recycle

      • NigelPearson on 19/11/2022 - 18:22

        15% isn't great, but what was the figure before the scheme?
        Were 4% of bottles+cans placed in council recycling bins? 2%?
        The rest were left on the side of the road, thrown in rivers and oceans, and rubbish bins.

        I certainly noticed a reduction in roadside litter (except outside of Gymnasiums - go figure).

        P.S. We pay 15c or 20c extra per drink, and the government pays back 15% of that.
        Revenue win for the drink manufacturers and/or the government !!!

        • greatlamp on 20/11/2022 - 11:38

          The 15% refers to the number of claims made against the scheme. People throwing their bottles in the recycling isn't measured.

          If there is less rubbish around, it's hard to say the scheme made a positive difference or not

          • NigelPearson on 20/11/2022 - 20:27

            @greatlamp: Bottles+cans in recycling probably isn't accurately measured
            (unless Councils actually report that – I haven't checked).
            What I'm saying is…

            If before the scheme, 4% were placed in council bins,
            then it means 96% were thrown out somewhere.

            After the scheme, if 15% are definitely recycled,
            less_than 85% is thrown out somewhere???

  • bobwokeup on 15/11/2022 - 12:12
    -1

    Like others have said why do you use so many water bottles??? Use a reusable water bottle.

    In answer to your question I’ve never used the machine as it’s a waste of time. Just do the bag drop it’s so much quicker and obviously much easier.

  • Seraphin7 on 15/11/2022 - 12:25

    From a financial perspective, it is simply not worth the time.

    I've done it a couple of times, but by the time you drive to and from the place and feed your bottles in one at a time, it's simply not worth it. And that's before you turn up and a "professional collector" has already got there and is working their way through hundreds or thousands before you get a look in with your couple of weeks' worth of home usage.

  • onetwothreefour on 15/11/2022 - 12:40

    I do, usually less than $10 every couple of months but there are the machines where we shop so it's not out of the way for us. Sometimes you have to wait 5 minutes and sometimes the machines are full but other than that it's OK.

  • GordonD on 15/11/2022 - 13:28
    +15

    For Earth's sake don't keep buying more and more bottles of water, then recycling the bottles!

    JUST KEEP REFILLING THE SAME BOTTLES FROM THE TAP.

    We have tap water that almost everywhere except in remote communities that depend on bore water is as good for you as what comes in a bottle. In fact that's where most water in bottles comes from.

    • TransportPosters on 16/11/2022 - 11:47
      +1

      This is what I do, always have for many, many years. Also, freeze them up and make ice blocks which slowly thaw out on road trips and shopping trips. Excellent chilled drinking water anywhere you are. And helpful in the freezer and fridge when there's a prolonged power blackout.

      I also wonder if it helps reduce electricity use since the frozen bottles in fridge are contributing to the cold environment in the fridge as the fridge will not have to run as much to maintain a set temperature, if it works that way by reading the internal temperature.

      There's been a number of mentions over time that reusing these thin plastic bottles can lead to chemicals from the plastic going into the water and we then consume it, increasing the risk of cancer. But it seems that for every expert who says this is true there are experts who say it's not true. So the debate continues on.

      • bobwokeup on 16/11/2022 - 12:01

        Better yet buy a BPA bottle and don’t freeze it. Room temperature water is better for the body anyway.

      • greatlamp on 18/11/2022 - 07:54

        You pay the electricity to freeze the bottles, I'm sure it would offset the saving in the refrigerator

        • xazark on 18/11/2022 - 09:49
          +1

          I remember reading a while back that keeping a full freezer is much more economical than an empty one as the freezer keeps trying to reduce the open air to -4 degrees instead if you have frozen water in there taking up the space, once its frozen it helps keep the rest of the freezer cold and doesn't take as much energy to maintain the temp. I assume the same is true for the refrigerator

          • greatlamp on 18/11/2022 - 16:49
            -1

            @xazark: If you take up the space in the freezer, when you open the door less warm air comes in that needs to be cooled.

            Nothing to do with frozen water, in fact freezing water would take a lot more energy than freezing almost anything else you might keep in a freezer, keeping it frozen would be the same as anything else.

            Freezing water, than moving it to the fridge is not going to be saving any energy, you would be better to just not open the door as often

    • capslock janitor on 17/11/2022 - 22:55

      u're trying to tell me it's not SPRING water?
      https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/116784/woo…

    • grasstown on 19/11/2022 - 16:26

      When I grew up we had bubblers in squares and parks and other places. I could sweat they removed them when coke started selling bottled water. Thought I have seen a few refill hubs around now.

  • l005e on 15/11/2022 - 19:44
    +1

    A lady comes past and takes our bottles from the bin however she takes all the lids off and leaves them behind. That could be the issue?

    • bobwokeup on 15/11/2022 - 19:46

      Yeah could be, lids should never be left on even if you’re dropping them in the roadside recycling bin.

    • apsilon on 15/11/2022 - 20:02
      +1

      For the NSW scheme you're supposed to leave the lids on.

      • bobwokeup on 15/11/2022 - 21:10
        -6

        No everywhere in Australia you have to take the lids off, including roadside recycling.

        • apsilon on 15/11/2022 - 21:27
          +8

          https://returnandearn.org.au/how-it-works/containers
          "Remember to leave the lids on when returning your containers. They'll be recycled too."

          You might want to get in touch and let them know they're wrong.

          • Kremleen on 16/11/2022 - 13:07
            +2

            @apsilon: Please take the lid off. I work for the only plastic manufacturing company in Australia and the different color and type of plastic between the bottle and the lid makes it more difficult to purify the recycled molten plastic

            • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 13:14

              @Kremleen: So throw them in general waste instead? That doesn't seem like the better option. You can't put them in the kerbside recycling as they're too small and they won't go down the conveyor of the return and earn machine on their own.

              • Kremleen on 16/11/2022 - 13:27

                @apsilon: I don't see why kerbside recycling bin could be a problem?

                • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 13:37
                  +1

                  @Kremleen: Small items are filtered out and not recycled.

                  • Kremleen on 16/11/2022 - 14:10
                    +1

                    @apsilon: Do you know where you get this information from? Nothing against you but it's surprising to me

                    • bobwokeup on 16/11/2022 - 14:18
                      +1

                      @Kremleen: It’s been like this for years unfortunately across Australia. I thought everyone knew that anything smaller than a peanut butter lid (for example) does not make it through the recycling process as it’s too small.

                      • apsilon on 16/11/2022 - 15:32
                        +1

                        @bobwokeup: Exactly this. It's the info councils have provided and is the same reason bread bag tags can't be put loose into kerbside recycling or why used al foil needs to be a fist size ball or larger. I assume the trucks dump everything on to some kind of grate and anything too small just falls through and goes to landfill rather than being sorted.

                        • bobwokeup on 16/11/2022 - 23:37

                          @apsilon: Only just saw this now. Yeah exactly it’s pretty much the same throughout Australia. There might be some specialised recyclers that can do it but they’ve definitely in the minority.

            • notbad on 17/11/2022 - 23:14

              @Kremleen: Visy? Lol

              • Kremleen on 18/11/2022 - 00:28

                @notbad: Qenos actually. Visy is more into packaging and cardboard aren't they?

          • bobwokeup on 18/11/2022 - 17:13

            @apsilon: Clearly I’m wrong, no need for the cynicism. It should be the same in this regards across the country. A huge majority of recycling centres want the lids removed as they are not always the same type and removing the air from the container can also cause problems.

            • apsilon on 18/11/2022 - 18:43

              @bobwokeup: I'd say more flippant than cynical. Anyway probably not, just getting tired of people "correcting" things with false info.

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