Recycling scheme expansion date set, but WA is warned - no hoarding allowed

A date has been set — but West Australians are being told to be “good citizens” and avoid hoarding their empty liquor bottles until they became eligible for the 10¢ containers for change scheme.

Labor’s election promise to expand the scheme has been brought forward, with Premier Roger Cook announcing the July 1 start date at the Aberdeen Street recycling depot, and urging people to make the most of it.

“The scheme will be able to cover almost all beverage containers, between 150mL and 3L, with the expansion also including sachets and casks, fruit and vegetable juices, flavoured milk and cordial containers,” he said on Wednesday.

“It is expected to bring an additional 200 million containers into the scheme every year. It will be a massive boost to our circular economy and a major step forward towards reducing waste and litter in WA.”

But Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne added a few conditions, with the scheme only set to apply to containers that are sold from July 1.

“The scheme works because everybody plays by the rules and so that’s what we really want them to do,” he said.

“So please, we trust the members of the community to do the right things.

“Those of you who enjoy a wine or a few spirits — and I’m sure there’s a few journalists here that fall into that category — please don’t hoard your containers at this stage.

“But once the first of July comes in, we encourage you to embrace it and to return your containers.”

More than 4.5 billion containers have been collected for recycling since WA’s scheme launched in 2020, with the expansion expected to add up to 130 million glass bottles a year.

Mr Swinbourne baulked at the idea of increasing the 10¢ rate of return, arguing the popularity of the scheme was proof it was enough.

“You only need 10 containers and you’ve got $1 and so I think that is the right amount at this particular point in time,” he said.

“If you’re a kid, it buys you some lollies. And that’s what we used to do when I lived in South Australia.

“We want to keep this nationally consistent, so any change in the rate — and it’s not on our agenda to change the rate — but any change would have to be done in coordination of the other jurisdictions.”