Headstart in cash-for-cans plan

Alannah McTiernan with students Deanna Tringas, Cormac Cox and Christos Pandos Kyilla Primary School. Picture: Lincoln Baker/The West Australian

Momentum is growing for a "cash for cans" recycling scheme in WA, with people to be paid 10¢ for each aluminium can.

The States have agreed to consider options for a national container deposit scheme such as the one in South Australia that offers 10¢ for cans and bottles.

But frustrated at delays, WA councils have introduced their own schemes.

The Town of Vincent offers up to $2000 to schools for cans collected this year and Fremantle council is set to follow.

Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan hoped the plan would go Statewide and help rectify WA's "pathetic" recycling record.

"It has huge community support and it is very successful in changing culture about recycling," Ms MacTiernan said.

As well as helping schools financially, it would educate the community on the value of re-using materials that would otherwise be landfill or litter, she said.

South Australia diverts almost 70 per cent of waste from landfill to recycling, but WA manages just 32 per cent.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said at a Council of Australian Governments meeting in July that the States had agreed to look at a national container deposit scheme.