The City of Perth has achieved a major milestone in support of Western Australia's container deposit scheme (CDS), Containers for Change, with 50 million eligible containers collected through our local refund points.
This translates to:
- 3,600 tonnes of containers diverted from landfill
- 14,600m³ of landfill space saved
- 7,500 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided
- 27.3 million kWh of energy saved
- 11 staff gainfully employed through the program
The CDS scheme is designed to be a simple and rewarding way for people to recycle and help reduce litter, protect the environment, and to create new opportunities for social enterprise and community groups.
The City operates two refund locations: the Aberdeen Street CDS depot, which opened in 2020, and the Roe Street Car Park Reverse Vending Machine. Together, these sites have helped City residents, workers and visitors recycle more, reduce litter and contribute to a cleaner, greener City.
The City's CDS Supervisor, Tony Nussey, said this milestone reflects the significant efforts of the City and individuals involved.
"The City was an early adopter of the container deposit scheme, establishing Australia's first CBD refund point," he said.
"As a team, we're proud to help make recycling more accessible in the heart of the city and contribute to making the city cleaner and greener.
"Reaching 50 million containers is a remarkable achievement, made possible by the contributions of City staff, partner organisations and of course the many community members who have welcomed this initiative with open arms and whose contributions have made a real difference."
Through the Containers for Change scheme, each eligible drink container returned to a CDS drop off point receives a 10-cent refund.
Beyond its environmental impacts, the scheme also delivers important social benefits.
It supports income and employment pathways for people experiencing homelessness and long-term unemployment, aligning with the City's commitment to corporate social responsibility and community wellbeing.
The City of Perth also proudly partners with Ability Action Australia, a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider dedicated to empowering people with disability through employment at our Aberdeen Street Containers for Change refund depot. This partnership has been inspiring, supporting individuals to build confidence, develop valuable workplace and interpersonal skills, and create lasting benefits for both the environment and the wider community.
Brian Widiodarmono, Employment Services NDIS Team Leader at Ability Action Australia said the partnership has been incredibly meaningful.
"For many of our participants, it's their first experience of employment, and the supportive, inclusive environment has made a real difference to their confidence and sense of belonging," he said.
