Financial help for container deposit scheme participants

Refund point operators and processors taking part in the McGowan Government's new container deposit scheme, known as Containers for Change, will receive more than $830,000 in assistance to help them through financial hardship due to COVID-19 delays.

The Containers for Change launch was postponed due to the impact of COVID-19 and will now commence on October 1, 2020.

Network participants were expecting income from June 2, 2020, when the scheme was originally set to start. In preparation, participants made financial commitments such as taking on leases and staff to support their operations.

The assistance package aims to support network participants until the scheme's revised start date. Funding of $831,946 will be provided to 17 applicants and will cover eligible costs associated with leases, loans, utilities and wages between June 2, 2020 and October 1, 2020.

It is expected more than 500 jobs will be created in the Containers for Change network throughout Western Australia, including jobs for people with disability, the long-term unemployed and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as apprenticeship and trainee opportunities.

Containers for Change will introduce a 10 cent refund for every eligible container returned to a designated refund point across the State.

As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:

"The financial assistance package will allow network participants to remain viable until the scheme commencement, and will ensure the success and sustainability of the scheme.

"We want this initiative to hit the ground running, so it's important for operators to be at full strength when the scheme starts so the community can return containers.

"We are committed to delivering a first-rate container deposit scheme that delivers the best possible outcome for the entire Western Australian community."