Water
6.686 litres estimated per eligible container.
Environmental Impact
See the impact of every container you return.
Enter the number of eligible containers you have returned to estimate the water, energy, landfill and carbon benefits created through container recovery. You will also see the total 10-cent refund value represented by those containers.
Energy
1.551 megajoules estimated per eligible container.
Refund value
10 cents represented by each eligible container returned.
Local returns
Use it for depot, Bag Drop, school, fundraising or commercial returns.
Interactive calculator
Calculate your container impact
Enter the number of eligible drink containers you have returned.
Example impact for 1,000 eligible containers
Your estimated impact
Environmental results are estimates based on published lifecycle-analysis factors and are provided as a general guide only.
Water saved
6,686 L
estimated
6.7 kL
Estimated reduction in water used compared with producing equivalent container material from virgin resources.
Energy saved
1,551 MJ
estimated
1.6 GJ
Estimated energy benefit associated with recovering and recycling eligible container materials.
Material diverted from landfill
68.9 kg
estimated
Estimated container material kept in recovery and recycling pathways.
Carbon emissions avoided
145 kg CO2e
estimated
Estimated greenhouse gas emissions avoided, displayed as kilograms of CO2 equivalent.
Refund value
$100
refund
10 cents per eligible container
The total 10-cent refund represented by the eligible containers entered.
Returning 1,000 eligible containers represents an estimated $100 in refunds, 6,686 L of water saved, 1,551 MJ of energy saved, 68.9 kg of material diverted from landfill and 145 kg CO2e emissions avoided.
Methodology
How we calculate your estimated impact
The calculator uses estimate factors from a lifecycle analysis of drink containers returned through NSW Return and Earn return points. The analysis was prepared by Boyden, A., Berenyi, T. and Grant, T. of Lifecycles Australia, with the final report provided on 14 July 2022.
The report was independently peer reviewed by Kyle O'Farrell of Envisage Works on 22 July 2022 under ISO 14044 Clauses 6.1 and 6.2. These results remain a general guide, not a direct measurement of the containers entered.
View the lifecycle analysis report- Water
- 6.686 L
- Energy
- 1.551 MJ
- Landfill
- 0.0689 kg
- Carbon
- 0.145 kg CO2e
- Refund
- $0.10
Source basis per 1,000 containers: 6,686 L water, 1,551 MJ energy, 68.9 kg landfill and 145 kg CO2e.
Why it matters
Every returned container keeps valuable material moving.
Eligible containers contain recoverable aluminium, steel, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard. Keeping them out of general waste improves their chance of recovery through sorting, processing and accredited recycling pathways.
Better recovery pathways
Returned containers are separated from general waste so recovered material can be used in new containers and other products.
Useful refund value
Refunds can support households, schools, businesses, clubs, charities and community causes.
Simple next steps
Start with the return option that suits your load, then use the calculator to understand what those returns could represent.
Sandgate impact context
Measure the impact of your Sandgate returns.
Use the calculator for eligible containers returned through the Sandgate depot, 24/7 Bag Drops, school programs, fundraising initiatives or commercial collection programs. It is manually entered only and does not retrieve transaction data.
Depot and Bag Drop
Estimate the impact of household loads, first-time returns and regular Bag Drop activity.
Schools and fundraising
Help students, families and supporters see what their collection effort could represent.
Business and commercial returns
Use larger counts to estimate the general impact represented by repeated workplace or partner returns.
Environmental impact FAQs
Common questions about the calculator
Short answers about the estimate, the source factors and how the calculator handles your entered number.
How accurate is the environmental impact calculator?
The calculator provides general estimates, not exact measured outcomes. It applies published lifecycle-analysis factors to the number of eligible containers entered.
Where do the calculation factors come from?
The factors are based on figures published by the ACT Container Deposit Scheme for its Impact Calculator, using lifecycle-analysis findings for drink containers returned through the NSW Return and Earn scheme.
Does every container create exactly the same impact?
No. Actual outcomes can vary with container material mix, transport, processing and recycling destination. The calculator uses a fixed average factor so the result is easy to understand.
Why are the results estimates?
They are estimates because the calculator does not inspect the exact containers entered or trace their individual recycling pathway. It uses published average factors as a general guide.
Does the calculator include the 10-cent refund?
Yes. Refund value is calculated at 10 cents per eligible container, so 1,000 eligible containers represents $100 in refund value.
Can I calculate the impact of commercial or school returns?
Yes. You can enter any container count, including containers returned through depot visits, 24/7 Bag Drop, school programs, fundraising initiatives or commercial collection programs.
Does Sandgate store the number I enter?
No. The calculator runs locally in your browser. It does not upload, save or attach your entered container count to personal information.
What happens to containers after they are returned?
Returned containers move through sorting, processing and accredited recycling pathways, where materials such as aluminium, steel, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard can be recovered for new products.
Ready to create your next impact?
Return eligible containers through Sandgate Bottle & Can Exchange and use the calculator to see what those returns could represent.