Geraldton container deposit recycling depot introduces collection service, refunds donors 10c

A container return depot which is making a difference to the recycling capacity of Geraldton is celebrating turning a corner, rebranding with Containers for Change and marking the start of a collection service.

Return It, a Wonthella-based facility, helps residents sort beverage containers, providing 10c refunds for each eligible bottle or can.

The organisation has recently partnered with Work Power, a charity which helps provide employment opportunities for people living with a disability. There will be six people employed through the charity, helping at the facility as well as engaging in a newly implemented collection service.

The community outreach within the company extends to a portion of profits being donated to Regional Alliance West, a community service organisation which assists people experiencing homelessness.

“Those funds will be used to provide relief and financial assistance,” Return It general manager Komal Singh said.

The collection service is something Containers for Change CEO Tim Cusack believes will be a success, especially in Geraldton.

“After three years of this, we’re really thrilled to increase the reach of the scheme to make it more accessible for those who are time poor, or living with a disability and can’t make it to a facility,” he said.

The collection service started in November 2023 and was formally launched on Tuesday afternoon.

The service can be booked via the Containers for Change app and will be performed within 48 hours, Ms Singh said.

The customer nominates a bank account which they would like to have their refunds deposited into.

The facility also welcomed a new counting device, which is improving customer experience and cutting wait times by more than 30 per cent.

Since the inception of the Geraldton facility in October 2020, 58 million containers have gone through the sorting process — and more than 440 million containers across WA.