Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Dave Grills MLC has welcomed the announced introduction of a container deposit scheme for beverage containers in Western Australia.
The scheme is expected to start in mid-2018 and will help improve recycling and reduce littering in the State. Under the scheme, consumers will be able to get a 10 cent refund on containers for soft drinks, bottled waters, small flavoured milk drinks, sports drinks and spirit-based mixed drinks.
Mr Grills said there was a strong desire among regional communities to increase recycling rates through such a scheme.
“Communities across the Mining and Pastoral Region are rightly proud of their natural environments and they want to ensure those natural values are protected through better waste management and recycling,” he said.
“Containers from a wide range of drinks are constantly in our litter stream and they end up in the environment, along roads and in parks and gardens.
“This scheme will benefit local communities by helping to reduce litter while also generating jobs and economic activity in the recycling sector.”
Mr Grills said community groups that undertook regular fundraising, such as charitable groups, sporting clubs, Scouts and Guides, environmental groups, and surf lifesaving clubs, would be able to profit by participating in large-scale recycling activities.
Nationals WA Candidate for the Kimberley Rob Houston said the Nationals WA strongly supported the introduction of a container deposit scheme in Western Australia.
“This is a practical way to reduce litter in our regions and help keep places like the Kimberley beautiful,” Mr Houston said.
“With a 10 cent refund on drinks containers, all Western Australians will be rewarded for their recycling efforts. This initiative will complement our recycling culture and is a win for the environment, jobs, the community and the recycling industry.”
The Liberal National Government is committed to reducing waste and litter across all waste streams. The container deposit scheme will complement the Western Australian Waste Strategy: Creating the right environment and the Litter Prevention Strategy for Western Australia 2015-2020.
