Western Australia ready to make change!

  • WA’s new container deposit scheme, Containers for Change launched today
  • Customers to receive a 10 cent refund on eligible drink containers
  • More than 200 refund points opening across WA
  • More than 600 local jobs created at refund points across the State  
  • Containers for Change, Western Australia’s new container deposit scheme, has officially launched marking the delivery of a key McGowan Government election commitment.

    From today, Western Australians will be able to cash in their eligible drink containers for a 10 cent refund at any of the more than 200 authorised Containers for Change refund points across the State.

    Western Australia will have the most accessible container deposit scheme in Australia, with at least 229 refund points to be opened by the end of the scheme’s first year. Almost half the refund points will be in regional Western Australia, including some of the most remote parts of the State.

    More than 600 local jobs have been created at Containers for Change refund points, with many of those positions being filled by people with disability or the long-term unemployed, and also by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    It is estimated that the scheme will recycle an additional 6.6 billion containers over the next 20 years. Without the scheme it is estimated that 5.9 billion of these containers would have been landfilled and 706 million would have been littered.

    Containers for Change will also provide a new way for community organisations and charities to fundraise, making it easy for Western Australians to give back to their local community.  

    Further information about Containers for Change, including refund point locations can be found at https://www.containersforchange.com.au

    As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

    “Today marks a very important step forward for recycling in Western Australia.

    “People in WA use 1.3 billion drink containers every year, that’s 3.5 million a day, 150,000 an hour and more than 2,000 a minute. We know that currently, these containers make up 41 per cent of all litter here in Western Australia. 

    “Containers for Change is a great win for our environment, for local jobs, for community groups and charities looking to fundraise, and for our kids to learn about the benefits of recycling.

    “Western Australians have been crying out for a container deposit scheme, and I’m delighted to lead the Government that has finally delivered it for our State.”

    As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

    “Community is at the heart of our Containers for Change scheme. It provides an exciting new opportunity for community groups, sporting clubs, charities and schools to fundraise for their important causes. We have had over 1,000 organisations already register and expect that number to continue to grow.

    “I am incredibly proud that Containers for Change is providing so many employment opportunities, with more than 40 per cent of the jobs being filled by those with disability, the long-term unemployed or Aboriginal people.

    “I’d strongly encourage all Western Australians to get involved, to start returning their eligible containers and start making change.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.