A group of Nepalis in Sydney are using the NSW government's "Return and Earn scheme" for more than an environmental cause.
Nisha Ghale keeps an eye on a person drinking a beverage from a can or a bottle and waits for that person to finish the drink.
She doesn’t hesitate a moment to put her hands in the bin to retrieve that container.
That is how Ghale prepares for the day’s collection. She doesn’t even take time off to look for empty cans and containers.
"The first time I found out about the refund scheme is when I saw an elderly man carrying a bag full of reusable containers", Ghale told SBS Nepali.
"I asked him about the containers and that's when I realized I should be collecting them too".
Four months have passed since Ghale started collecting cans and bottles for which she gets 10 cents each for an empty recyclable container.
Ghale says, on average, she collects $4 worth of empty cans and bottles each week. But the happiness that $4 bring is something she describes as priceless.
Only a handful of Nepalis living in Australia are part of the return and earn a container deposit scheme which contributes to the environment, raises funds for charities or just gives little pleasures in doing good for the wider community.
Rishi Acharya is an active member of Nepali community in New South Wales. He is one of the many can collectors around the country where the scheme is run.
“I guess very few people collect containers for personal benefit. Because the money earned by working one hour will be more than from one month of can collection.”
Can collection and return initiation takes a lot of patience, he says.
Ghale works in an aged care. She has asked almost everyone in her workplace to save containers for her to collect.
Nisha Ghale's colleague Akriti Sherchan says collecting renewable empty cans, and bottles looks deceivingly easy when Ghale is at work but understands how it can quickly be a wearying task.
Sherchan remarks, it is unbelievable how Ghale even checks inside the rubbish bins at the end of their shift.
Acharya's effort is little different to Nisha's as he gets bags of containers from his friends.
He says, “You will be surprised to see the collection in the backyard of my house.”
A few years ago the Nepali community started the can collection campaign in South Australia.
According to Acharya, that campaign called 'bottle for school' fascinated him. The campaign contributes to the education sector in rural Nepal.
Acharya says it is also setting an example for his children.
Ghale is also thinking about helping orphaned children in Nepal.
Bridge The Gap Nepal, a not for profit organisation in NSW promotes container collection and return campaign.
Shiva Shrestha, chairman of the philanthropic organisation, points out he has seen a sharp rise in the number of people collecting the recyclables.
Ghale is happy for the support from her understanding husband and friends, but she 's also aware of her friends who laugh at her when she brings the rubbish home.
"Those laughs and remarks don't bother me anymore. I will do what my heart tells me to do!" Ghale quips.
