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Katanning cashes in on container deposit scheme

Headshot of Sarah Makse
Sarah MakseGreat Southern Herald
Katanning Environmental Inc chair Matt Collis and WA Return Recycle Renew contract manager Anna Sorial.
Camera IconKatanning Environmental Inc chair Matt Collis and WA Return Recycle Renew contract manager Anna Sorial. Credit: Sarah Makse/ Great Southern Herald

The success of WA’s new container deposit scheme has spread to Katanning, with keen recyclers depositing more than 50,000 eligible cans, bottles and cartons in the first month of the Containers for Change program.

The Katanning Environmental Container Cash-In got off to a slow start, with more than 8500 containers donated within the first week of the scheme.

But that number has since skyrocketed, with almost 25,000 containers received the next weekend.

The scheme has been a hit among WA recyclers since it started on October 1, with 10 million containers donated within the first fortnight for a 10¢ refund to keep or donate.

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About 350,000 containers have been deposited in the Great Southern.

Katanning Environmental Inc. chair Matt Collis said donations had “dramatically increased” each week as the community continued to show overwhelming support for the scheme.

“It has been great to see donations from individuals, businesses, community groups and from all different sectors of the community,” he said.

“As a group, we were very late to join the scheme, limiting the amount of promotion and publicity we could do prior to our opening on October 2.

“So seeing the level of interest is very pleasing.”

Seven volunteers have been pitching in two days a week at the pop-up refund point, which is set to evolve into a full-service depot by the end of January.

“Once our shed has been developed, we will be operating as a full-service depot refund point,” Mr Collis said.

“Our plan is to transition more to employed staff at that stage.”

The Katanning Environmental Container Cash-In is open 2-4pm on Fridays and 9am-3pm on Saturdays at Lot 523, Dore Street.

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