The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today. The new container deposit scheme aims to reduce litter, improve recycling rates and the create new business and employment opportunities across the state.
In Western Australia, easily recyclable beverage containers, such as glass, aluminum and plastic, account for 44 per cent of all litter by volume. Through Containers for Change, the Western Australia Return Recycle Renew (WARRRL) aims to recover and recycle 65% of eligible beverage containers in Western Australia by 30 June 2021.
From today, consumers can return eligible containers for a 10c refund to an array of refund points in operation, including over-the-counter depots, ‘bag drops,’ mobile refund points and reverse vending machines.
The cost of eligible containers may increase by up to 10c for consumers to reflect the refund and scheme costs. The NRA recognises that retailers play an important role in this scheme in raising awareness and understanding of the scheme for consumers.
NRA Director of Policy David Stout is pleased that the retail industry was consulted over the past 18 months.
“We thank the Minister for Environment Stephen Dawson and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for their ongoing engagement with the NRA as part of the WA Container Deposit Scheme Advisory Group, alongside other key industry, community and environment bodies.
“As part of the group, the NRA was able to minimise costs to retailers, ensure an appropriate transition period to adopt the refund marking was granted and consistency was maintained across other jurisdictions and containers.”
To find out more about the National Retail Association’s work on sustainability and the environment, click here