Environment Minister Stephen Dawson today announced Western Australia’s new container deposit scheme, Containers for Change, will launch on Tuesday June 2, 2020 following the WA Day long weekend.
The establishment of a container deposit scheme will deliver on a key McGowan Labor election commitment and help divert waste from landfill and create jobs for Western Australians.
From June 2, 2020, Western Australians will be able to return and recycle their eligible containers at any Containers for Change refund point to receive a 10 cents refund per container.
More than 170 full-time or flexible refund points will be open for business on June 2 next year, with 229 refund points to open by the end of the scheme’s first year.
An array of refund points will be available – from over-the-counter depots providing on-the-spot refunds, to ‘Bag Drops’ that provide the convenience of a ‘drop and go’ facility with refunds deposited into customers’ nominated bank accounts once their containers are counted. Mobile refund points and reverse vending machines will also be in operation.
Containers for Change, run by not-for-profit WA Return Recycle Renew Ltd, will be the driving force behind changing consumer behaviours when it comes to recycling beverage containers.
Beverage containers currently account for 44 per cent of all litter by volume in WA.
Over the next 20 years, WA’s Containers for Change container deposit scheme is estimated to result in:
- 706 million fewer beverage containers being littered;
- 6.6 billion fewer beverage containers sent to landfill; and
- 5.9 billion more containers being recycled.
Containers for Change will also help create 500 jobs across the State, with a key objective of the scheme to support employment of people with disability and the long-term unemployed.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“I am pleased to announce that Western Australia’s container deposit scheme will commence on June 2, 2020 and will use the widely recognised Containers for Change brand.
“The McGowan Government is working to deliver the best container deposit scheme in the nation, with the best access to refund points of any scheme in Australia no matter where you live.
“We’re determined to get it right. Our June 2 start date will give the local charities and businesses that will operate refund points and be providers in the scheme enough time to organise the infrastructure and staffing they need to make their participation a success from day one.
“WA’s container deposit scheme ‘Containers for Change’ will create positive change for our environment by encouraging people not to litter, and provide a fundraising opportunity for schools and community groups across the State.
“As Minister for Disability Services, I’m also pleased about the positive impact Containers for Change will have for some of our most vulnerable people. A key objective of Containers for Change is to support employment of people with disability and the long-term unemployed.
“Containers for Change is a great win for WA’s environment, for jobs, for our local community and sporting groups always looking for new ways to raise much-needed funds, and for our kids to learn about the benefits of recycling.
“I’m looking forward to returning and recycling my first container on June 2 next year.”
