RESOURCES
Western Australia Bottle Bill
Everything you need to know about the container deposit system in Western Australia, including eligible containers, refund values, and collection locations.
Program Information
Name
Containers for Change, established under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2019.
Date Implemented
Launched on 1 October 2020.
Reclamation System
Managed by WA Return Recycle Renew Ltd (WARRRL), a not-for-profit organization appointed by the Western Australian Government. As of 2025, the scheme includes over 260 refund points across the state, comprising reverse vending machines, over-the-counter sites, and automated depots.
Fees
Beverage suppliers fund the scheme through per-container scheme prices, which range from $0.1239 to $0.1317 AUD, depending on material type. These fees are paid to the scheme coordinator. Suppliers also pay a fixed annual coordinator fee for administration, a compliance fee to the Western Australian Government, and a 10-cent processing refund per container to MRFs for kerbside-collected containers.
Unredeemed Deposits
Retained by the scheme to fund operations and system improvements.
Eligible Containers
Western Australia's Containers for Change scheme accepts most beverage containers between 150mL and 3L. Here's what you can return for a refund:
Plastic Bottles
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L PET Bottles | 14.04¢ | 10¢ |
| 150mL – 3L HDPE Bottles | 14.14¢ | 10¢ |
Glass Bottles
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 14.12¢ | 10¢ |
Drink Cans
Leave tabs on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 13.63¢ | 10¢ |
Drink Cartons
Caps on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L LPB Cartons | 14.39¢ | 10¢ |
Juice Pouches
Push straws in
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 14.39¢ | 10¢ |
Water Casks
Leave bag in box, water casks only
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 14.39¢ | 10¢ |
What's Not Accepted
Milk (Over 1L)
Includes any fresh, long-life, or flavored milk over 1L.
Wine, Spirit Bottles and Casks
Includes glass and plastic bottles, as well as bag-in-box formats. Only accepted if 150mL–3L and has the refund mark.
Size Restrictions
Containers smaller than 150mL or larger than 3L.
Cordial & Concentrates
Sweetened, flavoured, fruit-based syrup.
Health Tonics & Supplements
Medicinal or therapeutic beverage containers. Includes drinks sold as supplements or remedies.
Unmarked Containers
Containers without the 10¢ refund mark.
Non-Beverage Liquids.
Containers for non-drink liquids. Cleaning fluids, oils, and household chemicals—even in drink-like packaging.
Program Performance
Western Australia's Containers for Change has achieved significant results since its launch:
| Category\Year | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
Absolute Recovery Rate | 65%+2.0% | 63% |
Relative Recovery Rate | 87.7%+0.2% | 87.5% |
| Aluminum | 73.6% | 71.8% |
| Glass | 59.8% | 58.5% |
| Plastic | 64.2% | 62.6% |
| Paperboard | 53.7% | 52.3% |
Regulations & Resources
Key legislation and resources for Western Australia's container deposit scheme:
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 (WA)
This Act provides the overarching legal framework for waste management and resource recovery in Western Australia. It establishes the authority for implementing waste avoidance and resource recovery strategies, including the Container Deposit Scheme.
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit) Act 2019 (WA)
This amendment Act modifies the 2007 Act to incorporate provisions necessary for the implementation of the Container Deposit Scheme. It introduces Part 5A, detailing the objectives, operational structure, and responsibilities of scheme participants.
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2019 (WA)
These regulations provide detailed operational guidelines for the Container Deposit Scheme, including eligible containers, refund amounts, labeling requirements, and obligations of scheme participants.
Mutual Recognition Amendment (WA Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2020 (Cth)
These Commonwealth regulations exempt Western Australia's Container Deposit Scheme from certain provisions of the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, allowing the state to enforce its container deposit requirements without conflicting with interstate trade laws.
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