With less than 100 days to go until Western Australia's Container Deposit Scheme is officially launched, local residents are furiously hoarding drink containers ready to exchange them for cash.
From June 2, each eligible drink container returned to an authorised Containers for Change refund point will be worth a 10-cent refund.
There will be more than 170 refund points across the state commencing operation later this year, with at least four in the Peel region by the time the scheme launches on June 2.
Close to 6 billion fewer drink containers are expected to end up in landfill over the next 20 years thanks to the new scheme.
In an effort to inform the community about the nitty-gritty details, Containers for Change is hitting the road over the coming weeks with stops in both Mandurah and Pinjarra.
The team will host community information sessions to provide any additional details about the container deposit scheme and give participants the chance to meet local refund point operators.
There will be two workshops in the Peel region:
Pinjarra
- Thursday, March 19
- 4pm
- Pinjarra Bowling & Recreation Club
Mandurah:
- Thursday, April 2
- 4pm
- David Grays Arena
The scheme's coordinator, WA Reduce Reuse Recycle Limited (WARRRL), chief executive Tim Cusack said West Australians had already shown overwhelming support for the upcoming launch.
"In just 100 days this fantastic new recycling scheme will become a reality in Western Australia," he said.
"Containers for Change is everyone's chance to earn cash from drink containers, whether you're a community group, charity or an individual.
"Our Containers for Change community information sessions are free so come along to find out how the scheme works, and how you and your community can participate and benefit from the scheme."
As part of the Containers for Change deposit scheme, the state government is offering grants of up to $2000 to help not-for-profit organisations, schools and community groups establish a refund point.
Community groups will share in $200,000 in funding to purchase infrastructure including bins, cages, skips, security stands, fences, tippers, sorting equipment and trailers.
Grant applications are open until March 27 and priority will be given to applicants providing employment outcomes for people with disability, long-term unemployed people, and under-served remote and regional areas.
Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the grants would be a "great help" for local not-for-profits getting started with the scheme.
"I'd encourage local Murray-Wellington groups to apply for grants and come along to information sessions so that they can get the most out of fundraising from the scheme," she said.
"It's really exciting that the countdown to container deposit is well and truly on. People in the Murray-Wellington community are very waste conscious and always looking for ways to live more sustainably."
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said he was excited to see the container deposit scheme up and running.
"Containers for Change is all about giving people an incentive to recycle their drink containers, so they don't end up littering our streets, communities and waterways," he said.
"We know from other states where container deposit schemes have been introduced that the 10-cent refund for eligible containers creates great opportunities for the whole community - from jobs, to local fundraising, to environmental benefits."
For more information about the container deposit scheme community grants, visit the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation website.
To register for a Containers for Change Community information session, visit the website.