Wangarang has officially launched the expansion of its Return and Earn depot, commissioning a third sorting machine that will significantly reduce processing and wait times for customers.

The new machine has been installed in response to sustained growth in local recycling volumes. Since the facility opened two-and-a-half years ago, more than 26 million containers have been processed and recycled. Wangarang is now handling close to one million containers each month.

Wangarang CEO, Chris Rawlins, said the expansion marks an important milestone in Wangarang's mission to create meaningful employment through its Disability Social Enterprise.

He is encouraging the Orange community to attend the official opening and see first-hand how recycling is helping to create local jobs.

"Our depot has returned $2.6 million in container refunds to the community since opening in March 2024," Chris said. "This expansion means shorter queues, faster cash refunds and, most importantly, more meaningful, paid employment opportunities for people with disability.

"Every container returned makes a difference. The incredible support from the Orange community has enabled us to continue growing, creating more jobs while keeping millions of containers out of landfill."

The official opening was planning to include a live side-by-side demonstration comparing the previous sorting process with the new three-machine operation, showcasing the significant increase in speed and efficiency.