Big start to the new year for Freo's Containers for Change

The festive season has delivered a bumper harvest to the City of Fremantle’s Containers for Change refund point, with more than 40,000 containers processed in a single weekend.

Containers for Change allows people to claim a 10-cent refund for every eligible beverage container they hand in to refund points like the one at the City of Fremantle Recycling Centre.

From its opening on October 1 until the end of December last year the City’s refund point received more than 650,000 containers.

In the first weekend of the new year a total 40,434 of containers were cashed in at the centre.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said it was terrific the community had embraced Containers for Change.

“Containers for Change is good for the environment because it encourages more recycling and reduces litter, and it’s also a great way for individuals to earn some extra cash and for schools, community groups and charities to raise much needed funds,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The beauty of the City of Fremantle refund point is that the City also receives a handling fee of six cents per container and any surplus revenue we make can then be reinvested back into the community.

“Not only do people benefit directly by receiving their 10 cents per container, they can also benefit indirectly through the investments the City makes on things like playgrounds, cycle paths and community grants, so it’s a win-win.”

The entry to the City of Fremantle’s Containers for Change refund point is on Knutsford Street, just around the corner from the Fremantle Recycling Centre.

It’s open six days a week, including 10am-4pm on Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday, and is open to everyone not just City of Fremantle residents.

There’s also a convenient bag drop point at the City of Fremantle’s administration building at Fremantle Oval on Parry Street.   

Businesses, schools, sporting clubs and community groups can also set up their own collection point where the City will provide collection bins, pick up the containers and take them to the refund point for counting and sorting.

Containers for Change is a state-wide scheme that targets beverage containers that most commonly end up as litter.

The types of beverage containers covered in the scheme include plastic and glass bottles, liquid paper-board cartons, and steel and aluminium cans between 150 millilitres and three litres. Wine, spirit, milk and cordial bottles are not accepted.

To find out more visit fremantle.wa.gov.au/containersforchange.