Western Australia is set to expand its container deposit scheme, known as Containers for Change, starting on 1 July 2026. This expansion will allow a wider range of beverage containers to qualify for a 10 cent refund at participating refund points. The initiative aims to enhance recycling efforts and reduce waste across the state.
The updated scheme will accept nearly all beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to 3 litres. This includes glass bottles of wine and spirits, which are currently not eligible. Other newly included items will be containers for wine in plastic packaging, sachets, casks, as well as larger containers for fruit and vegetable juices, flavoured milk, and cordial. Until this expansion takes effect, only currently eligible containers can be returned for a refund, and new types will not be accepted at refund points.
Containers brought to refund points must display the scheme’s refund mark to qualify. Importantly, refunds will only apply to purchases made after the expansion begins. Certain products, such as plain milk and registered health tonic containers, will continue to be excluded and should be placed in household recycling.
The Containers for Change scheme, which launched on 1 October 2020, has already collected over 4.56 billion eligible containers. This has significantly boosted Western Australia’s beverage container recovery rate from approximately 34 percent prior to the scheme’s initiation to around 65 percent for the financial year 2023–24. The government estimates that the expansion will introduce an additional 200 million containers annually into the refund system, including 90–130 million glass bottles that are currently ineligible.
By broadening container eligibility, the government aims to simplify the scheme for consumers while potentially improving recycling rates even further. This change aligns Western Australia’s deposit scheme with those of other Australian jurisdictions that have already included similar container types in their refund programs.
Beverage suppliers will play a critical role under the updated scheme. Suppliers who first sell eligible containers in the Western Australian market will be accountable for compliance with scheme fees and regulations. Starting in July 2026, suppliers of newly eligible wine and spirit containers must ensure that these products are registered, carry the refund mark and barcode, and meet reporting requirements.
The expansion underscores a commitment to enhancing recycling infrastructure and providing clearer container eligibility for the public. It reinforces the state’s overarching waste reduction strategy while maintaining the existing 10 cent refund model at participating refund points.
The information presented here aims to inform the public about significant changes to the container deposit scheme and its expected impact on recycling efforts in Western Australia.
