Date set for new WA container deposit scheme
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 help divert waste from landfill and create jobs in the WA economy.
From June 2, 2020, West 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.
Any glass or aluminium beer vessel up to three litres in size are eligible for return.
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.
The Containers for Change haven't yet set the price per vessel WA breweries will have to contribute to the funding of the scheme but it is expected to be around 11 cents.
Unlike other States breweries will only be charge for the returned vessels in arrears and even the Government acknowledges that not all beer cans and bottles will be presented to the depots and refund points.
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