Western Australians are embracing Containers for Change at a rapid rate, with more than 10 million containers returned for recycling in just 12 days since the scheme launched on October 1, 2020.
So far Western Australians have made almost 50,000 visits to Containers for Change refund points, cashing in an average 200 beverage containers per visit.
More than $1 million has been paid out to Western Australians participating in the scheme - more than $30,000 of that being donated to community groups and charities via container donations.
The largest date of returns was Saturday October 10, with 1,026,000 containers returned.
Containers for Change has created more than 680 local jobs, with over 40 per cent of positions awarded to people with disability, the long-term unemployed or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Aluminium is the most returned material, making up 56 per cent of returned containers, with glass (22 per cent) and PET (plastic) in third place with 19 per cent.
The scheme is expected to recycle an additional 6.6 billion containers over the next 20 years. Without Containers for Change, it is estimated 5.9 billion of these containers would have ended up in landfill and 706 million would have been littered.
For more information about Containers for Change, visit https://www.containersforchange.com.au
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"To the people of Western Australia, I say 'thank you' 10 million times - once for each container you have returned for recycling. Every container returned means one more that is recycled, reducing litter, reducing landfill, and contributing to a more sustainable environment.
"The rapid rate in which Containers for Change has been embraced by WA reflects the commitment people are willing to make to recycling and helping our environment. Ninety-seven per cent of Western Australians wanted this scheme and it's great to see so many using it so quickly.
"The flow-on effect from Containers for Change is the real reward - a cleaner environment, jobs for more than 680 people, some change in pockets, and a much-needed funding boost for dozens of hard-working community groups, social enterprises and charities."
