Albany Coles partners with Container for Change to help save containers from landfill over the festive season

Albany Coles will join Coles supermarkets around the State that have partnered with WA’s Containers for Change to help shoppers recycle their empty containers this Christmas ahead of Empties Day 2023. Customers can collect a free Containers for Change mesh collection bag from the front of Albany’s Coles to fill with their empty Christmas drink containers. Containers can then be dropped off at one of Albany’s three container refund points to be recycled. Empties Day will be taking place on Saturday, January 28. It is a Statewide call to arms to encourage more WA residents to recycle their 10¢ drink containers from landfill by visiting their local Containers for Change refund point. WA residents can also collect a 10¢ refund per container or donate the refunds from their festive season empties to a local community group, charity or school. WA Return Recycle and Renew chief executive Tim Cusack said up to four million 10¢ containers are expected to be returned to Containers for Change refund points on Empties Day, which comes as more West Aussies make the choice to ensure their containers are recycled and not sent to landfill. “We are encouraging people new to Containers for Change to give it a go on Empties Day,” he said. “By partnering with Coles, we aim to reach more Western Australians than ever before, get more Containers for Change bags into the community and raise important funds for local charities, community groups and schools.” January has been the busiest time of year for the collection points since Containers for Change launched in 2020 with 78 million drink containers returned in WA last year. “There are over 500 million containers still heading to landfill, that could be recycled and donated to important causes,” Mr Cusack said. “That’s a lot of money that could go into the hip pocket of Western Australians. “We hope that the WA community will get behind Empties Day and create a new habit of recycling their containers via one of our refund points.” Minister for Environment and Climate Action Reece Whitby said WA residents had embraced Containers for Change. “What better way to make the most of this festive period than stepping up our recycling rates and creating change,” he said. Coles State general manager Pat Zanetti said he was excited stores in WA could be involved with such a great initiative. “We’re pleased to be partnering with Containers for Change to make it easier for our Western Australian customers to return their drink containers this Empties Day.” Albany’s refund points are located on York Street near the IGA, at 93 Stead Road, Centennial Park and 1-2 Hardie Road, Spencer Park. Information on Empties Day and the location of refund points in your area is available at the Don’t Feed the Fill website.