With the cost-of-living front of mind for many South West households, more people are exploring easy ways to boost their income. But there is some good news. Not all side hustles require extra hours or major effort and some can fit seamlessly into your everyday routine.

Enter container saving: the low-effort, rewarding side hustle that’s gaining traction across the South West.

Through Containers for Change, every accepted drink container you return earns you a 10¢ refund, yours to keep or donate to a good cause. It might not sound like much, but it adds up faster than you’d think. According to Containers for Change, the Southwest community has saved and returned 372.5M containers since October 2020.

Small actions add up

Think about how many drink containers pass through your household each week: water bottles, soft drink cans, juice boxes. Instead of throwing them in the general waste bin, setting them aside in a dedicated bag or tub can quickly turn into a small but steady stream of extra money.

Kids can get involved by collecting containers at home, school or sport, learning the value of saving while working towards pocket money or a reward. For retirees, it’s a simple way to stay active and social, like collecting on your daily walks to catch up with friends. And for community groups, from footy clubs to school P&Cs, it can become a significant fundraising tool.

Built for regional life

One of the reasons saving 10¢ containers works so well in the South West is its accessibility. With 25 refund points located across the South West region, it’s easy to incorporate saving and returning containers into your regular routine.

The financial boost is a clear drawcard, with the benefits quickly adding up. Whether you choose to keep your refunds or to donate them, container saving can also support your local charity or local good cause.

And, there’s the more obvious broader impact: every 10¢ container returned through Containers for Change is one less item ending up in general waste or as litter in our waterways and bushland.

It’s an easy addition to your routine, and a small action that can make meaningful change to your life, at a time needed most.

While one 10¢ container might not seem like much, for charity organisations like River Angels, every container adds up to important funding that is used to make life easier for locals living with cancer. In just three years, the Margaret River community was able to contribute 120,000 drink containers to River Angels, equating to more than $12,000 that was used to provide counselling sessions and financial assistance to those in need.

Every drink container set aside instead of going into general waste is an opportunity to support local good causes like River Angels.

The easiest way to get started

Getting into container saving doesn’t require a big time commitment or upfront cost. Start with a box, bag or bin at home to save accepted containers. Once it’s full, take it to your nearest refund point to receive or donate 10¢ for every container.

From there, it’s just about consistency. The more it becomes part of your routine, the more it pays off. In a time where every dollar counts, this is a practical way to earn a little extra while doing something positive for your community.

Containers for Change makes returning containers easy, rewarding, and impactful across WA. Save accepted drink containers, return them for 10¢ refunds, and help your community. Visit the website for more information.