In Wagga Wagga, it is not illegal to search through someone’s bin once it has been placed on the kerb. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Since 2017, the people of NSW have been using the Return and Earn initiative.
The simple premise of holding onto your single-use bottles or cans, cleaning them out and taking them to a collection centre in return for 10 cents for every bottle returned has proven very popular.
In fact, as of February 2025, more than 13 billion containers have been returned and $1.3 billion in container refunds have gone back into people’s pockets.
However, in recent weeks, several residents across the Wagga Wagga area have noticed a downside to the program, as people desperate for a quick bit of change have been spotted searching through others’ bins.
Adam Drummond and his wife experienced an awkward interaction with a bin invader recently. Initially believing it to be the neighbour unloading something into his bin, they soon realised it was something a little more unsettling.
“My wife and I were walking the dog at 7:30 pm, so it was pretty dark and as we left, there was a torch on our front yard,” Mr Drummond said.
“I assumed it was the neighbour going through his bins. But as we got close, I realised that we didn’t recognise this person. He was a stranger.
“He looked up and saw us coming – he looked like a deer in headlights. He flipped his torch off and then really quickly walked back to his car.
“I said to my wife, I reckon he’s taking out the cans and bottles so that he can get 10 cents.”
Fines and charges relating to people rummaging through bins differ from council to council and are not regulated by the police or the state.
Wagga Wagga and Albury are among the state’s seven councils where there are currently no laws in place preventing people from rummaging through people’s bins once they have been placed on the kerb for collection.
However, should someone come onto the property and go through one’s bins, it can be considered trespassing and theft.
Mr Drummond said he felt conflicted about reporting the incident.
“My wife said, ‘should we do something?’
“I said, I don’t think so. Because if you’re desperate enough to be doing that, then you probably don’t need more dramas in your life. So we just kind of let him go, but then when we came back about an hour later, he was on the same street, but about 12 doors down.
“It’d be a bit slack, I think, to prosecute someone who’s struggling in life so much that they need to do it, because it’s a pretty desperate act to get 10 cents per can.
“It’s just a bit creepy, having someone go through your possessions. That’s probably the only crime I feel. But on the other hand, we were throwing the cans out anyway, it’s a victimless crime.”
