Collecting 450,000 cans and bottles helped Damien save a house deposit
www.abc.net.au
A NSW man has gone to great lengths to cash in on recycling, returning almost half a million cans over seven years to save for his first home.

In short:

Damian Gordon has bought a house using savings earned from recycling bottles and cans.

Each eligible bottle or can recycled at a Return and Earn depository results in a 10-cent refund.

What’s next?

Mr Gordon says he will continue to return cans and bottles to help pay off his mortgage

  • boonhet@lemm.eeEnglish
    421·
    4 days ago

    I mean he also has a full time job, he made 45k in 7 years off his side hustle.

    I do agree that it should be easier to afford a home. Also bottle deposits need to rise. They’ve been stagnant for over a decade where I live. It’s like a 2-in-1 city cleaning program and beer money program for bums.

    • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.eeEnglish
      10·
      3 days ago

      Where tf did he find all those cans? There are people in my community digging through trash for some cans and bottles and don’t find as many

      • can@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        13·
        3 days ago

        While he holds down a permanent job during the week, Mr Gordon also volunteers at events like music festivals, where he collects thousands of cans and bottles at a time.

        That’s a lot more than you can fit in a shopping cart.

      • boonhet@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        I think it’s country dependent. Wealthier countries with low deposit have more thrown away.