Western Australia Expands Container Deposit Scheme for Recycling

Western Australia will broaden its Containers for Change scheme starting on 1 July 2026. This expansion will allow a much wider array of beverage containers to be returned for a 10 cent refund at participating refund points. The initiative aims to enhance recycling efforts and reduce waste in the state.

The updated scheme will accept nearly all beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to 3 litres. This includes glass bottles for wine and spirits, which were previously not part of the scheme. Additional items now eligible for refunds include wine in plastic packaging, sachets, casks, and larger containers for fruit and vegetable juices, as well as flavoured milk and cordial.

Until the expansion is implemented, the current list of eligible containers will remain unchanged. Only containers that display the scheme’s 10 cent refund mark will qualify for refunds, and this applies solely to purchases made after the new regulations take effect. Some items, such as plain milk and registered health tonic containers, will continue to be excluded and should be placed in regular household recycling.

The Containers for Change scheme, launched on 1 October 2020, has already collected over 4.56 billion eligible containers. This effort has significantly improved Western Australia’s beverage container recovery rate, climbing from approximately 34 per cent prior to the scheme to around 65 per cent for the 2023–24 financial year. The government anticipates that the expansion will introduce an additional 200 million containers annually into the refund system, including between 90 million and 130 million glass bottles that were previously excluded.

By expanding eligibility, the state aims to simplify the scheme for consumers and potentially boost recycling rates even further. Beverage suppliers will bear the responsibility for compliance under the scheme’s framework. From July 2026, suppliers of newly eligible wine and spirit containers must register these products, ensure they carry the appropriate refund mark and barcode, and adhere to reporting requirements.

This expansion aligns Western Australia’s deposit scheme with similar initiatives in other Australian jurisdictions that have already broadened their refund programs. The change is intended to strengthen recycling infrastructure, clarify container eligibility for the public, and support the state’s overarching waste reduction strategy, all while maintaining the existing 10 cent refund model at participating refund points.

As this initiative progresses, it reflects a growing commitment to sustainable practices and responsible waste management in Western Australia, fostering a culture of recycling and environmental stewardship.