A new Western Australian Planning Commission position statement will guide infrastructure assessment and approvals for the State's container deposit scheme (CDS).
The State Government's Position Statement: Container Deposit Scheme Infrastructure, provides guidance for local government and industry on the location and development of CDS infrastructure.
This includes container collection cages, in shop/over-the-counter return points, reverse vending machines and container deposit recycling centres.
The intent of the position statement is to ensure a consistent and co-ordinated approach to the installation of CDS facilities.
To maximise the effectiveness of the CDS in reducing litter and increasing recycling, it is important for associated infrastructure to be conveniently located in communities across WA.
The position statement also aims to ensure the location, design and siting of CDS infrastructure is complementary to the character, functionality and amenity of surrounding neighbourhoods.
The position statement is available on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage's website at https://www.dplh.wa.gov.au
As stated by Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The State Government is committed to delivering a State-wide container deposit scheme by 2020.
"Ensuring that the required recycling infrastructure is in the most appropriate location is essential to improving recycling in Western Australia.
"Encouraging more recycling in the community is a priority of the McGowan Government and we can achieve better outcomes by setting guidelines through the planning system."
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Government considers customer convenience a high priority so Western Australians can easily return their beverage containers for their 10 cent refund.
"A clear and consistent planning approvals process for the container collection network is critical to ensure we have appropriately located refund points when the CDS starts early next year.
"Having approval criteria aligned across local government areas will also help operators who plan to set up refund points in multiple locations."
