Almost six million containers have been saved from landfill and converted to cash at the City of Fremantle’s Containers for Change refund point over the past year.

Containers for Change allows people to claim a 10-cent refund for every eligible beverage container they hand in to the City’s refund point.

For the 2021-22 financial year, more than 5.8 million eligible containers were cashed in at the refund point, returning $582,204 back to the community.

That figure includes almost $40,000 donated to local charities and community groups.

Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said it was great to see both the environment and the community benefitting from Containers for Change.

“Almost six million containers is a huge number of bottles, cans and cartons that could have ended up as litter or in landfill,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said.

“On top of that, more than half a million dollars has been paid out to individuals, businesses, schools, sporting clubs and community groups.”

The entry to the City of Fremantle’s Containers for Change refund point is at 83 Knutsford Street, just around the corner from the Fremantle Recycling Centre.

It’s open six days a week, including 10am-4pm on Saturday and 12-4pm on Sunday, and is open to everyone not just City of Fremantle residents.

The City also supplies bins and a collection service to all local businesses, community groups, sporting clubs and charities. Call 1300 MY FREO (1300 693 736) or email cfc@fremantle.wa.gov.au for more information.

Containers for Change targets the beverage containers that most commonly end up as litter. Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible for a refund.

To find out more visit fremantle.wa.gov.au/containersforchange.