Western Australia

Law Summary

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2019 (outlines the framework of the scheme as described under Part 5A of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007)

Date Implemented

Passed in 2019, Implemented October 1 2020

Beverages Covered

Beverages >150 mL and ≤1L:

Pure fruit/vegetable juice
Milk and dairy alternatives

Beverages >150 mL and ≤3L:

Fermented milk products
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks
Water
Carbonated and non-carbonated flavored water
Sports drinks
Kombucha
Alcoholic beverages
Beer
Wine (see exceptions below)
Spirits and liquor [1]

Beverages Not Covered

Any beverage less than 150 mL or more than 3L
Concentrated fruit or vegetable juice
Cordial – concentrated/undiluted
Wine in sachets more than 250 mL or less than 150 mL

Amount of Deposit

10¢ AUD

Fees and Taxes

Supplier Material Fees a.k.a. supplier fee (2020) [2]:

Material Type	Cost per container supplied (minus GST)	Plus GST (Goods and Services Tax)	Cost per container supplied (Inc GST)
Aluminium	11.39 cents	1.14 cents	12.53 cents
Glass	11.84 cents	1.18 cents	13.02 cents
HDPE	11.85 cents	1.19 cents	13.04 cents
PET	11.76 cents	1.18 cents	12.94 cents
LPB	12.17 cents	1.22 cents	13.39 cents
Other materials	12.17 cents	1.22 cents	13.39 cents
Weighted average cost	11.65 cents	1.17 cents	12.82 cents

Program Success

Overall Return Rate: 64% [3]

Details

Western Australia's container deposit scheme, known as Containers For Change, began on October 1 2020. Prior to its implementation, its original start date was June 1 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19 health and safety precautions. [4] Most aluminum, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard containers between 150mL and 3L are eligible for a refund under the container deposit scheme. Consumers may drop off their containers at a return point, where they can receive or donate their refunds in the following ways [5]:

Electronic Fund Transfer (if signed up, the refund is sent straight to your nominal bank account)
Cash (claim a cash refund immediately upon return)
Retail cash vouchers (receive the refund in a voucher usable at certain, limited return points)
Donate (Give the refund to a local charity or community group by inputting their scheme ID)

As of July 2022, consumers can return their containers at 265 different return points, owned by 78 different operators. [6]

Footnotes

[1] "List of beverage containers included in the container deposit scheme." Government of Western Australia, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

[2] "FAQS: What are the cost for me as a first responsible supplier?" WA Return Recycle Renew Ltd. 2020.

[3] "Western Australia reaches recycling milestone." Jackson, Deborah. Convenience & Impulse Retailing. July 19 2022.

[4] "WA Container Deposit Scheme." Government of Western Australia, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

[5] "Containers for Change: How it Works." Western Australia Return Recycle Renew, 2020.

[6] See Footnote 3.

Last updated on July 26 2022.

Bottle Bill Resource Guide