WA community invited to have a say on container deposit scheme

WA community invited to have a say on container deposit scheme

The McGowan Labor Government is progressing its election commitment to establish a container deposit scheme and help divert waste from landfill and create jobs for Western Australians.

Premier Mark McGowan today called on the community to help shape the scheme, which will offer a refund when eligible bottles and cans are returned to designated refund points across the State.

Recycling not only generates positive environmental benefits, it also has economic benefits. With every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled, 9.2 full-time jobs are created, compared with just 2.8 jobs when the same amount of waste is sent to landfill.

A container deposit scheme is likely to boost job creation further, with as many as 500 jobs predicted to be created once the scheme is up and running, through its administration, collection points and delivery of recycled goods.

Releasing a discussion paper on WA’s new container deposit scheme, the Premier and Environment Minister Stephen Dawson encouraged the community, government and industry to provide feedback on its design.

Under the scheme, a 10-cent refund will be paid for each eligible, empty beverage container – including 150 millilitre to three litre soft drink bottles and cans, bottled waters, flavoured milks, sports drinks, beer cans and spirit-based mixes.

Beverage containers account for 35 per cent of the volume of all litter in WA.

By contrast, in South Australia – where a scheme has been in place for 40 years – beverage containers account for 17 per cent of the litter stream.

The discussion paper is available here.

Comments on the scheme must be submitted by Monday, October 23.

“This is a significant environmental policy with the goal of reducing litter and encouraging a recycling culture, to protect our unique wildlife and spectacular scenery across our beautiful State,” said Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said, “I have been campaigning for a deposit container scheme since 2012, so it’s great to see one finally introduced in Western Australia. This scheme will go a long way towards improving WA’s woeful recycling rates.”