Paige Rutherford began collecting bottles for the Return and Earn reverse vending machine, located in the St Vincent de Paul car park, at the end of last year. Now, she has taken the initiative to her school. 

“I have been collecting the bottles since before the machine was installed here. It is helping to save the environment and it is good for the earth,” she said. 

“I collect about four of five milk crates each week. It is lot of rubbish saved. I give the money back to Mum to do the shopping.”

However, her class is collecting bottles in an effort to donate money for the Tathra Bushfire Appeal. 

“My class has been collecting bottles and Mrs Greenacre puts them into the Return and Earn and donates the money to Tathra,” Paige said. 

“All the others kids are supporting it. If they haven’t yet, they should do it because it is fun to do, helping save our environment and giving to a good cause.”