Shire of Denmark takes home local government award for commitment to Containers for Change scheme

The Shire of Denmark took home the top gong for a local government at the Containers for Change awards last month, recognised as one of eight Statewide award winners.

The shire won a merit award as a local government which has embraced the Containers for Change scheme and worked hard to educate its community and provide easily accessible container return opportunities.

The Containers for Change scheme was launched in WA in October 2020, and since then more than 5.6 billion cans and bottles have been recycled, with more than $22 million in 10¢ refunds donated to schools, community groups and charities across the State.

In Denmark alone, more than 4.6 million containers have been diverted from landfill since June 2023, resulting in more than $462,000 returning to the community.

The shire expanded its commitment to the scheme this year, adding dedicated Containers for Change baskets to public bins around the town in June to encourage more people to recycle their containers.

The containers collected in the baskets can be taken to the Denmark Waste Management and Refuse Facility Containers for Change refund point by anyone in the community who wants to take the initiative, meaning community groups and residents can use the public baskets as a way to pocket a bit of extra cash without having to collect the containers themselves.

The annual Containers for Change Awards are presented by WA Return, Recycle, Renew Ltd, and recognise community organisations, businesses, schools, local governments and people who have taken up the cause of Containers for Change.

Winners and honourable mentions in each of the eight categories were recognised at the awards at Optus Stadium on September 23.

WARRRL chief executive officer Dr Kate Brooks said the awards recognised those around WA putting in the effort to encourage recycling in their community.

“WA’s container deposit scheme covers 2.5 million square kilometres of terrain, and requires a highly co-ordinated network of refund points, processors and logistics partners, businesses, community organisations, local governments and many others working together,” she said.

“The Containers for Change awards give us an opportunity to recognise the hard work and efforts of our network partners, including the 63 refund point operators who maintain the 316 refund points around the State.

“The awards are also about bringing the whole ecosystem together — sharing and building new partnerships and celebrating the people and organisations who are finding better ways to recover containers.

“Reaching our container return target of 85 per cent will take all parts of that ecosystem working together.”