Maclean Lions originally started Return and Earn in Mid 2019 operating from their shed in Ironbark Drive, but COVID closed them down at the beginning of 2020.

Members met with Peter Birch and David Sutton from Council to discuss the future needs of Return and Earn in a more viable location. 

Members signed a lease which then allowed them to move to the site at 130 Jubilee Street and work began on levelling the area with road base and installing an office container.

The Tomra company then supplied empty containers and the Lions Return and Earn facility began on September 24, 2022.

This has been an extremely popular and successful community project which has given back $150,402.60 into the community’s pocket. 

This has also kept 1.50 million containers out of landfill and off the streets.

We are currently filling up a 40ft container every week and keep a spare container for those days when our 40ft is full and we need more space, which happens quite often. (Last week, the club sent back a 40ft and a 20ft full of bottles, cans, plastics, and poppers).

Maclean Lions currently have the support of 29 volunteers to run their project, which operates for 4 hours, 3 days a week, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Some of our volunteers have remarked that this is project is so vital for their mental wellbeing and the highlight of their week.

The permanent office was fitted out by volunteers, and it has taken them approximately 80 hours to get it to where it is today.

Operating costs are run on a strict shoestring budget with setup costs of $29,511.

Maclean Lions feel extremely proud of their achievement of hitting over 1.5 million counted containers in just over 13 months and increasing their donations to their local community.

They encourage others to get involved and support the project. 

More volunteers are welcome.

Call in to the site and talk with members of the club. 

More hands mean better outcomes.

President Deyann McDonnell and Treasurer Tracy Smith