- New initiative to improve WA's container
recycling rates
- CITIC Pacific Mining to partner with Sodexo
Australia to provide 360 Containers for Change collection points at Eramurra
mine site and village
- Partnership expected to result in 2.7 million
containers collected each year
- More than 3.4 billion containers collected and
$12 million donated through Containers for Change since 2020
Container recycling rates
in Western Australia are set to improve thanks to a new initiative that will
lead to millions of beverage containers on mine sites being collected every
year.
More than 3.4 billion
containers have been collected and more than $12 million donated to charities,
schools, and community groups every year under Containers for Change.
However, improving
recycling rates in WA's critically important mining sector remain a challenge,
with about 50 million containers lost to landfill on mine sites every year.
In a major step towards
diverting that waste from landfill, a new Western Australia Return Recycle
Renew Limited-supported (WARRRL) partnership between CITIC Pacific Mining and
Sodexo Australia is set to bring Containers for Change to CITIC's Eramurra
village and mine site near Karratha.
Through the partnership, WARRRL
will provide 360 Containers for Change collection points throughout Eramurra's recreational
areas, car parks, administration, and the site's wet mess.
This is expected to
result in 2.7 million containers collected each year, diverting more than 5 per
cent of unrecycled containers from landfill.
Donations generated
through container refunds are expected to contribute to CITIC Pacific Mining's
community fund, as well as support community initiatives in Karratha and the
wider Pilbara region.
The partnership is the
first of many set to be announced in the coming months, with WARRRL continuing
to work with the mining industry to expand Containers for Change's reach.
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Containers for Change is
a major part of our Government's commitment to improve recycling rates in
Western Australia.
"It's encouraging to see
WARRRL work with the mining industry, which is critically important to our
State, to provide Western Australians with more options to return their 10-cent
containers.
"Together, they are
ensuring more donations go towards schools, charities and community groups
throughout WA."
Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"I commend CITIC Pacific Mining
and Sodexo Australia for taking up this opportunity with WARRRL to provide more
recycling options for its workforce.
"With ESG becoming an
increasingly important consideration across the resources sector, I urge more
companies to take up this and other similar opportunities.
"Containers for Change is
a great initiative and WA's resources sector can play a leading role in proving
its environment credentials by diverting recyclable waste away from landfill."
Comments attributed to WA Return Recycle Renew CEO Tim Cusack:
"I congratulate CITIC Pacific Mining and Sodexo Australia on their
efforts to adopt Containers for Change at Eramurra.
"They are leading the way by ensuring that every 10-cent drink container
can be captured and recycled by positioning bins on their sites in all
locations where disposal occurs.
"This site has embraced the Containers for Change resources available to
significantly improve the environmental and social impact of their site.
"The impact that one site can have on reducing landfill is significant, and
we are committed to providing the tools and assistance for mining organisations
to adopt a Containers for Change solution as part of maximising recycling on
their sites."
Comments attributed to CITIC Pacific Mining Chairman and CEO Chen Zeng:
"We have a very large workforce, and their understanding and support of
the program has been fundamental in what we've been able to achieve so far.
"Education has been the key - they know every time they choose to put a
plastic water bottle or glass stubby in a designated collection bin, they're
helping us both tread a little lighter in terms of our environmental footprint
and supporting the local community.
"It's a win-win situation.
"We're very pleased to be piloting the expansion of this program and are
ready, willing and able to share our knowledge and experience with our industry
peers."
Comments attributed to Sodexo Australia managing director Keith Weston:
"Partnering with CITIC Pacific and WARRRL in on-site recyclable container
collection is a significant step for Sodexo in Australia.
"Being the first food services company to commit to net zero globally by
2040, reducing waste across our operations is crucial to achieving this goal.
"With our presence in 100 locations in Australia and our largest
footprint being in WA, this partnership sets a new standard in our sector and
establishes a replicable model that benefits local communities."
