Dont let potential of your festive empties go to waste

  • Western Australians encouraged to recycle 10c containers this festive season
  • Estimated $42 million in 10c refunds available between now and February
  • January 29 is ‘Empties Day’
  • Refunds from 10c containers help hundreds of Western Australians
  • Western Australians are being encouraged to visit their local Containers for Change refund point on January 29, 2022 to ensure their festive empties do not go to landfill.

    The McGowan Government’s container deposit scheme, Containers for Change, has declared Saturday, January 29, ‘Empties Day’ and is urging Western Australians to return for recycling as many 10c drink containers purchased over the festive period as possible.

    An estimated 420 million 10c drink containers will be sold in WA between December and February, representing $42 million in 10c refunds.

    January 29, 2022 will be the State’s first ever Empties Day, with refund points, charities and community groups embracing the opportunity to promote their services and 10c container donation points.

    The announcement comes as refund points across WA gain access to more than 40 different marketing and branding materials from Containers for Change via a new online shop. Western Australia’s Containers for Change refund point network is unique in that many operators are not-for-profit organisations or small family-owned businesses.

    Western Australians are showing an increasing interest in Containers for Change, with 64 per cent of Perth residents and 74 per cent of regional residents saying they will definitely recycle through the program.

    Since the McGowan Government launched Containers for Change in October 2020, more than 900 million 10c containers have been recycled and turned into new bottles and other items.

    More information on Containers for Change and your local refund point is available at https://www.dontfeedthefill.com.au

    As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

    “Western Australia has the most accessible refund point network in the country, with 260 refund points operating throughout the State.

    “We are encouraging people new to Containers for Change to give it a go on Empties Day, while also reminding the thousands of existing container savers to collect and return the 10c containers they use over the festive period and school holidays.

    “The 2020-21 summer was the busiest time for container returns in the program’s first 12 months and we are already seeing a significant boost in returns as the festive season gets underway and people buy and consume more beverages.

    “The first two weeks of December alone saw 30 million 10c containers returned to refund points across WA, which represents $3 million in refunds going directly back into people’s pockets or donated to community groups and charities.

    “Any 10c containers that are lost to landfill during this period can never be recycled – and while you might not need the 10c refund there are hundreds of community groups and charities out there who do.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.