Hilton Primary School cashing in on Containers for Change

Hilton Primary School is one of just dozens of schools, community groups and sporting clubs using the City of Fremantle’s Containers for Change refund point to raise much-needed funds.

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.

Hilton Ward councillor and Hilton Primary School P&C member Frank Mofflin said the school had already raised hundreds of dollars through Containers for Change.

“The school received a grant from the Department of Water and Environment to purchase a Containers for Change trailer,” Cr Mofflin said.

“The school community has jumped on board and after a little bit of promotion we raised $132. During the holidays we then encouraged the wider Hilton community to contribute and we raised another $161. 

“The funds raised will be used by the P&C for sustainability projects at the school, and there is a real sense of excitement as to what we might do.

“I think during the year we’ll be able to pick up thousands of dollars for the school without doing too much at all.

“It’s really easy to go down to the City of Fremantle depot because the staff are welcoming and it’s really straightforward, and we know the profits the City gets from Containers for Change is money that goes back into the community.” 

The City of Fremantle Containers for Change refund point is 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.

The entry is on Knutsford Street, just around the corner from the Fremantle Recycling Centre.

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.