City of Fremantle
Coastal Charm
In WA, we use more than 1.3 billion eligible drink containers each year, enough drink containers to line a path from Perth to Broome.
When it comes to recycling, Western Australians now have the chance to make real change and earn cash while we do it!
Containers for Change is a state-wide container deposit scheme that lets you cash in eligible containers for 10-cents each.
Containers for Change aims to:
To find out more about Western Australia’s container deposit scheme, visit Containers for Change.
The scheme targets beverage containers most commonly seen as litter. Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a refund.
Generally, ineligible containers are those that are less than 150ml and greater than 3L. Other ineligible containers include all plain milk bottles, wine bottles, pure spirit bottles, cordial and registered health tonics. Pure juice containers over 1L (or under 150ml) are also ineligible.
Visit the Containers for Change website, scroll down to the ‘Want to check the eligibility of a container?’ and type in the container barcode.
A dedicated recycling bin is located at the Fremantle Recycling Centre for all eligible container beverage container lids. The lids are recycled in Perth. See the process in this short video.
Please note that Containers for Change no longer accepts lids from ineligible containers (eg. milk bottle lids).
Lids from containers, larger than the size of a business card can be placed into the yellow lid recycling bin.
Sign up for a Member Number; it is the easy way to receive your refund via a direct deposit (electronic funds transfer) into your bank account.
Other refund payment options are available (voucher, donation, or cash) and do not require a Member Number.
Sign up now
A comprehensive list of frequently asked questions can be found on the Containers for Change website.
Eligible containers can be dropped off at the City of Fremantle Containers for Change Refund Point or the bag drop detailed below.
Containers must be empty, without the lids. If you have a case of empty drinks containers, please bring the containers in their case, this will help our team to count your containers more quickly.
Separating your containers is welcome to speed up the counting process at the refund point however it is not necessary.
The refund point is located at 83 Knutsford Street, Fremantle (the entrance is next to the operations centre entrance, on Knutsford Street).
Public Holidays – closed
Look for the green and white Containers for Change signage and follow the line marking to either the bag drop-off or refund point.
If you are using the bag drop, print your label at the designated point and simply apply the sticker to your closed bag of eligible containers then drop it off at the bag drop area.
Donations
When dropping off eligible beverage containers, you have the choice of donating the funds to help the local community or causes.
Or, the Containers for Change website has a directory of good causes to support.
Bulk drop off
For transactions over 825 eligible containers, you must bring photo identification.
For transactions over 1,500 eligible containers, you will also need to provide a signed refund declaration (provided on arrival).
Location
The bag drop is accessible 24 hours a day, from the Beach Street car park (south), Beach Street, Fremantle.
Eligible containers can be placed into a bag with your member number attached. They will be collected and processed to your Containers for Change member number.
Instructions
Labels with the user’s Member Number are available from the side of the bag drop container.
Simply apply the sticker to your closed bag of eligible containers then drop it off at the bag drop area.
Help Containers for Change continue to provide great service, or send them some good vibes in this quick 5-question survey:
Take the survey
During 2021-22, the City of Fremantle Containers for Change returned $582,204 back to the community, $40,000 of this donated to local charities and groups.
This Fundraising Drive is a new initiative to help schools, sporting groups, clubs, or organisations raise funds for a new project or donation for a cause. It’s easy, free, and great for the environment.
Celebrate your achievement after the drive with your school community. Please share your stories with the City too.
Provide a collection point at your school for students to bring eligible containers from home. Speak to local businesses, or maybe a letterbox drop around the school to residents.
Promote the fundraiser to the school community in the school newsletter, social media, posters around the school, at an assembly or in letters to parents.
Make sure to provide details on what is acceptable and where people can drop the beverage containers too.
Available on request are templates, a donation tracker, award certificate, school fundraising poster, letter template, and processing guide.
After reading this guide, decide what you would like to do and what resources you need.
Contact us at cfc@fremantle.wa.gov.au
Containers for Change is a wonderful way to fundraise and educate students on the importance of recycling and issues of litter.
Use the school community and network to fundraise for a cause or project.
To see how you can partner with the City of Fremantle Containers for Change Refund point for your fundraising drive find out more information in the Fundraising with Containers for Change section above.
Containers for Change WA, with Waste Sorted Schools, has developed this free education guide.
Several lesson plans for years 5-6 have also been developed to increase student’s understanding of recycling and sustainability. Visit Cool.org.
