Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western Australia’s container deposit scheme accepting wine bottles?
No. The Premier recently made an announcement that the Western Australian container deposit scheme will begin accepting new containers such as wine bottles in the State Government’s next tenure. No start date for this change has been announced.
What new containers are proposed in the expansion?
The proposed new containers included in the 2023 consultation were:
- Grape wine and spirits in glass bottles up to 3 Litres
- Grape wine in plastic containers 250mL to 3 Litres
- Grape wine in sachets 250mL to 3 Litres
- Grape wine in casks 1 to 3 Litres
- Water in casks 1 to 3 Litres
- All fruit and vegetable juice, flavoured milk and cordial containers up to 3 Litres
When will the expansion come into effect?
The official launch date is yet to be advised.
Why was this announced now?
The State Government made the announcement on Saturday 8 February, as a pre-election commitment.
When will we know more?
Following the Western Australian State Election on Saturday 8 March 2025. WA Return Recycle Renew will keep you updated once we receive further information.
Will the container deposit scheme still be expanded if Labor is not re-elected?
The question of whether the expansion will go ahead will be something only the government can answer. We will continue to update stakeholders as new information becomes available.
What do I tell customers who come in with wine bottles?
There may be the odd instance where a refund point receives containers that are not yet accepted in the Scheme. It’s important to inform customers you are unable to accept these containers until the expansion takes effect, and ask them to continue using the relevant bin according to WasteSorted guidelines.
Can we start to collect wine bottles and other future containers at our refund point?
No. For now, it’s business as usual. That means no new containers are to be accepted until the expansion officially comes into effect. We will continue to provide refund points information on the expansion as it becomes available
Should I talk to the media or post to socials about this?
As per WARRRL’s media policy, only the CEO or the Chair can speak on behalf of WARRRL. If you are contacted by any media, please forward the request to [email protected].
Will the 10¢ refund increase?
The refund amount is set by the State Government, as outlined in the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2019. At this stage we are unaware if this will change.
Will RPO handling fees increase?
Handling fees are set by the State Government, as outlined in the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2019. At this stage we are unaware if this will change.