Recycling could be increased and littering reduced if bottles carried a 10p payment for returning them, according to a new government study. More>>

Around 20 years ago, glass bottle deposits were common in the UK, but were phased out with the cheap availability of cans and plastic bottles, which were discarded after use. More>>

A return to a bottle deposit system gained “overwhelming public support” in a poll commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

According to the Ipsos Mori poll, 82% said they would support a scheme where a five pence deposit was included in the price of a drink container. About 80% also said they would support a 10 pence deposit scheme. Even more people (90%) said they thought the deposit would help reduce street litter, which costs about £500m to clean up each year.

These results have come as a Government commissioned Review of Packaging Deposit Systems for the UK, has been published by Environmental Resources Management.

CPRE President Bill Bryson said: “We asked Government to consider a review of bottle deposit systems earlier this year, and we know Ministers will be looking at the results as part of their strategic review on packaging. This public poll proves that such a scheme would have huge support, so we say that now is the time for the Government to take action.

Bryson cited examples where schemes have offered good return rates:

* New York State’s bottle bill has rates of 65-80%;
* South Australia has plastic bottle rates of 74% and can rates of 86-92%;
* Denmark has a beverage container rate of 87%
* Sweden has a beverage container rate 82%

A deposit system could have particular advantages at Christmas. The UK uses an extra 750 million bottles and glass containers and 500 million drinks cans during the festive period. With a 10 pence deposit this could equal £125 million given back to the consumer at Christmas alone. More >>

Bottle deposits used to be common in the UK 20 years ago but were phased out when plastic bottles and cans became cheap to make and discard.
However, as the UK runs out of landfill it could come back into fashion.More >>

A feasibility study by the Government found that returning drinks containers in exchange for 10p would increase recycling and reduce litter.
But the system would make drinks more expensive for people unable to return to the shop to claim back their deposit. It would also require massive investment in infrastructure and could take funds away from kerbside recycling. More >>

The report by consultants Environmental Resources Management Limited concluded that if the system is introduced it will have to be designed carefully in order to stop drinks manufacturers from designing containers that will be cheaper because they do not have to be part of a scheme.
The Government, which has favoured the idea in the past, is now looking at the report. More >>

Ben Stafford, Head of Campaigns at CPRE, said the study showed the scheme could go ahead.
"The research commissioned for Defra shows that a deposit scheme could have real advantages, and we don't even need to look outside the UK for proof. In Scotland, Irn Bru is still available in refundable glass bottles, and an impressive 70 per cent of these are returned. Each glass bottle returned is cleaned, refilled and sold around five times during its full life." More >>

Mr Stafford said the system could also ease the current situation where councils are unable to sell cans and plastic botttles on for recycling because of the economic downturn. Especially during the festive season people use an extra 750 million glass containers and 500 million cans.
He added: "A deposit of 10 pence a bottle could see UK householders recovering £125 million at Christmas time alone. With the UK only recycling 35 per cent of the 13 billion plastic bottles we use each year, we feel sure a deposit scheme will have a real impact, help to keep the streets cleaner and reduce the annual £500m litter clean-up bill that we all have to pay." More >>

Reverse deposit systems for packaging have been placed under the spotlight again after a government feasibility study found that a 10p returnable deposit would increase material collection.More >>

Defra commissioned Environmental Resources Management to compile the report, following a renewed interest in deposit schemes and reverse vending as a collection method for beverage containers.More >>

Beverage deposit systems require consumers to pay an additional fee to the retailer, which is then reimbursed when the consumer returns the empty packaging.

The report found that deposit systems would increase total tonnage of materials collected, but a significant amount of deposited packaging would be "cannibalised" from existing collection schemes.

However, it was agreed that a deposit scheme might aid in the collection of "hard to reach materials" found in "on-the-go" food and drink packaging.

The report closely follows the publication of a poll by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), which revealed that four in five people polled would support a 10p deposit scheme.More >>

CPRE president Bill Bryson said the Ipsos Mori poll proves that a scheme would be well supported and so "now is the time for the government to take action".

Ben Stafford, head of campaigns at the CPRE highlighted the case of Irn Bru in Scotland, which is still sold in refundable glass bottles, 70% of which are returned.

Every glass bottle that is returned is cleaned, refilled and sold around five times during its life.

Going back to the days when children used to get a few pence for taking empty lemonade bottles back to the shops, commuters travelling on a popular bus route in
 
Aberdeenshire will be the first in the country to be offered travel discount vouchers every item they recycle.

But to amass enough points to travel free on a return journey on the route they will have to recycle 700 items.

Scotland's first "reverse vending recycling" initiative for discounted bus travel was officially launched yesterday by Stagecoach and Aberdeenshire Council at the Ellon Park and Ride site facility, used by more than 120,000 commuters a year. It is hoped the move will reduce landfill and encourage more people to take greener forms of public transport.

If successful, the scheme could be rolled out to bus stations across Scotland by the bus company.

Under the pioneering scheme, bus passengers will be able to put their used cans and bottles in a special recycling vending machine, which will award them with tickets for green travel points for every item they recycle.

For every 50 green points they accumulate they will receive a 20p bus travel voucher, while 100 points will earn a 50p travel discount. A return fare on the route between Ellon and Aberdeen is currently priced at £3.50 – equivalent to 700 recycled items.

Aberdeenshire Council has launched a new scheme which aims to offer reduced travel fares on buses for people who recycle their used drink cans.

The "reverse vending machine" will dispense money-off vouchers worth 10p for every 50 drinks cans it receives.

This new system will operate from the Ellon Park and Ride site to the north of Aberdeen. More >>

Councillor Peter Argyle, Infrastructure Services Committee Chairman, Aberdeenshire Council, said: “We are delighted to be part of this partnership with Stagecoach to launch Scotland’s first reverse vending machine. This complements the existing range of recycling services that the Council offers and will allow us to review how this kind of machine could be used in other locations.”

Formartine Area Committee Chairman, Councillor John Loveday, added: “This initiative is a great incentive for Ellon Park and Ride users. Not only are they helping reduce carbon emissions by using public transport, they will now also be able to boost their green efforts by recycling on site.”

The hi-tech reVend FR 600 machine, which has a capacity to hold over 2,000 items at a time, is supplied by the Reverse Vending Corporation, the leading UK distributor and operator of advanced reverse vending recycling technology.

It uses advanced barcode technology to identify, sort, collect and recycle steel and aluminium drinks cans, as well as plastic drinks bottles. In return, the machine automatically prints a ticket with a point for every item recycled.

Steve Stothard, Senior VP and Chief Technology Officer with the Reverse Vending Corporation, said: “We are delighted with the pioneering and foresighted decision by Stagecoach, in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, to help the environment by installing the first reverse vending recycling machine in Scotland.

“Reverse vending recycling is proven technology. It has been used fore over three decades in continental Europe where the mandatory deposits on beverage containers are returned to the consumer for recycling their used cans and bottles.”

The recycled material will be collected and sorted by local group Ellon Can-do, which is part of Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work service and runs projects and a day centre for adults with learning difficulties.  Ellon Can-do already collects plastic bottles on behalf of the Council from public recycling points in the Ellon area and operates from an industrial unit close to the park and ride site.

Earlier this year, Stagecoach launched an innovative eco-partnership with Perth and Kinross Real Nappy Network (PKRNN) to offer a free a week’s free bus travel to parents signing up to use real nappies for their babies.

Stagecoach Group is continuing a major drive to make its own business more sustainable and attract more people to travel by bus, coach, train and tram. The company’s wide-ranging strategy includes investment in renewable fuels and cleaner engines, state-of-the-art energy efficient facilities, water and waste recycling initiatives and offering businesses green travel incentives for their employees.

Stagecoach has launched Scotland’s first reverse vending recycling initiative - offering discounted bus travel in return for used drinks cans and plastic bottles, together with Aberdeenshire Council, today. More >>

Students at a UK agricultural college are being paid to recycle plastic bottles and cans. More>>

Sparsholt College, Winchester, is the first British organisation to install a reverse vending machine.

The machine issues a voucher worth £0.05 for each item recycled. Vouchers can be used towards snacks and other goodies in the college’s shop, restaurant and bar.

In its first week of operation, the machine collected 1,000 cans and 2,000 plastic bottles.

Reverse vending machines are popular in Europe.

In some countries - such as Sweden - consumers are charged a premium for items sold in cans or plastic bottles.

The premium is returned only when the packaging is placed into a reverse vending machine.

According to the Reverse Vending Corporation, the machines can increase the recycling rate to 65%. More>>

Students attending an agricultural college are receiving encouragement to recycle their cans and plastic bottles with a machine that gives them cash vouchers for their containers. More>>

Hampshire’s Sparsholt College has become the first UK organization to have a reverse vending machine installed. The machine issues a five pence voucher for each suitable container recycled.

The vouchers are valid for purchasing items from any college shop or for use at its bars and restaurants.

The Reverse Vending Corporation, which installed the machine last month, reported that it became immediately popular, with students readily queuing to recycle drinks containers.

Steve Stothard, the senior vice president and chief technology officer of the company, noted that in its first week the machine collected nearly 1,000 cans and 2,000 plastic bottles.

The manager of the project at the college, Debbie Carless, was responsible for suggesting the installation of the machine. She said: “By investing in this unique machine, Sparsholt College is taking recycling seriously. It’s a great idea and it works.”

Steve Davies, the college’s vice principal, commented: “We’re thrilled to be the first in the UK to advocate reverse vending recycling. It’s a great initiative which has already proved popular with students and demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability.” More>>

For each acceptable item recycled, the machine issues a voucher to the value of 5p which can then be redeemed at any College restaurant, bar or shop.

The University of Sheffield has revamped its recycling initiatives this week by installing an inventive new machine.
The Reverse Vending Machine, which is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, will offer incentives to staff and students to encourage them to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) are able to sort, collect and process used drinks containers for recycling. Each time a container is recycled, the machine will produce token receipts for 5% off a hot drink at eatwithUS outlets across the University campus. Any unacceptable objects or unsuitable materials are identified and automatically rejected

Pat McGrath, Director of Accommodation and Campus Services at the University, said:

Reverse Vending systems are proving equally popular in universities and colleges. In November 2007, Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) became the first university in the UK to install a reverse vending machine on campus.
RUSU president Sally Pearman said: "If I take a can and put it in the machine it will clean it and compress it. In return, the machine will issue me with a ticket giving discounts and I will make money back. There are thousands of these machines in Europe, but we're the first university in Britain to get one." More >>

Veteran green campaigner Prof David Bellamy believes technology like this is the way ahead to solve some of our environmental ills.

“And if deposits were an effective way of collecting drinks containers for recycling, their practicality diminishes as the number of products covered increases. It’s just not feasible to expect people to queue up to reclaim a deposit on every item of recyclable packaging used in the home. The way to increase recycling rates is to encourage more people to support their local collection schemes.”

In some US cities they’ve managed to achieve this by combining the idea of a deposit scheme with collection on a large scale.

The initiative, led by a company called RecycleBank, involves residents receiving ‘RecycleBank dollars’ depending on the weight of waste they recycle each week. These dollars are in the form of vouchers, which can be redeemed at supermarkets, chemists, restaurants and hotels.

Household recycling has increased 200% on the back of the scheme and has caught the attention of Boris Johnson. The new Mayor of London made improving the capital’s poor recycling rates a key part of his manifesto, suggesting that he will “champion new and innovative schemes”. Last month, it’s thought that representatives from RecycleBank were at Town Hall for discussions with some local authorities.

To a certain extent, the idea has already been tested on some UK households. Two years ago, Defra ran some 50 trials to encourage households to recycle by offering financial incentives and community awards. Some also involved a system called reverse vending. It’s a system that’s similar to RecycleBank’s, but it’s aimed at encouraging out of home recycling. The idea is a simple one. The object to be recycled is pushed through a hole and the machine (which looks like a drinks vending machine) scans it to determine the material type.

If it’s not suitable (i.e. not PET), it’ll be rejected and drop back out. If it is PET, it will pass through a set of rollers to compact it before dropping into internal storage compartments. A voucher is then dispensed to the shopper.

Unfortunately, the trials didn’t prove to be successful. In one case, Reverse Vending machines were located in a shopping centre, but the vouchers offered were for a leisure centre three miles away.

“When you put your bottle in, you want 50p to come out or to get your parking free,” explains Hyder Consulting’s Read. “We need some good case studies to see how much these things are going to cost to install and operate, as well as the best incentives to shoppers. We also need to look at who’s going to pay for it.”

“By comparison, industry spent £105 million in 2005 to recycle 60% of all packaging waste, and public funding amounted to £50 million,” explains INCPEN’s Bickerstaffe.

Of course, reverse vending is not a nationwide deposit scheme. The principle is the same, but, in effect, reverse vending could offer an interim solution until a viable option for deposit schemes is worked through.

There are over 80,000 reverse vending machines installed across the world, according to the Reverse Vending Corporation. This is expected to double in the next few years. In the UK it’s estimated that a market for 47,000 single ‘stand alone’ reverse vending machines has been independently assessed for installation over the next 10 years.

“As packaging collection and recycling targets are increased and enforced in the UK, the costs of operating the current waste management solutions will rocket; new systems that reduce man hours and costs of operation of packaging collection and recycling will therefore come to the fore,” says the Reverse Vending Corporation’s senior vice president and chief technology officer, Stephen Stothard.

With Recoup estimating that some 700 million plastic bottles are consumed and discarded away from the home each year in the UK, the potential for reverse vending is considerable. However, the country is currently lagging behind.

“There are a number of locations now considering using reverse vending machines,” adds Andy Newton, Recoup project officer.

Indeed, reverse vending is currently most popular in countries that already understand the concept of pay-as-you-throw.

Many people can remember earning a little extra pocket money by depositing their empty bottles but Barry College learner Jordan Vatsaloo has won himself a shiny new iPod.

Barry College’s reverse vending recycling machine – the first in a Welsh college - has proved extremely popular with learners. Anyone depositing a bottle receives tickets which can be used to buy food and drink in the College refectory.

“We had the idea that once a term there would be a golden ticket, and whoever got the golden ticket would win an iPod,” Assistant Principal, Finance and Resources, Mark Roberts explained. Jordan, who is on a plumbing course at Barry College, is the latest winner.

Reverse vending recycling hit the headlines this week with the launch of a national campaign calling for a new bottle deposit law which would pay back the deposit from recycling plastic bottles and cans.

“We have collected 3,000 bottles,” David Speight, Manager of ARAMARK which is responsible for the College’s catering, said. “We have a range of promotions for the points awarded for using it which change regularly. It’s proved very popular – some of our learners collect bottles to bring in and recycle for fruit or water.”

Barry College’s reverse vending recycling machine was supplied by Reverse Vending Corporation and installed in October 2007.

Stephen Hall, Chief Executive of Reverse Vending Corporation said “through the collection of 3000 plastic bottles and the commitment to recycling by Barry College students & staff and David Speight and his ARAMARK team confirms that reverse vending recycling is real success in the education sector in Wales”.

Mark Roberts added “the recycling machine forms part of Barry College’s response to the sustainable development agenda. I’m pleased that we now have a Welsh Assembly Government cabinet minister with responsibility for sustainability in Jane Davidson and an action plan has been developed for the education sector and FE colleges are required to make a full contribution,”.

There's been a call this week for a deposit system on glass and plastic bottles and cans to help with litter and recycling. About time - but will it work? more>>

Campaigners call for bottle deposit law -

Bottle deposits planned to battle litter -

Miss Ruddock said: "I have asked officials to look at how we deal with the worst litter offenders, which are bottles and cans.

Joan Ruddock may bring back deposit charges for bottles -

Campaigners call for 10p deposit on drink cans and bottles -

The deposit scheme would add 10p to the price of every bottle or can sold.

This would be returned to the consumer - or anyone picking up an empty bottle or beer can in the street - either by the retailer or at a recycling collection point. The manufacturer could make money from selling the containers for recycling, while cleaner streets would mean fewer costs to the taxpayer.

Similar schemes are already in place in South Australia, Germany, Sweden and the U.S., where 11 states have "bottle bills" with a 5 cent deposit added to the price of each drink.

Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU) officially open a Reverse Vending Machine to all its students.

Can uni believe it? A recycling vending machine

30th October - D-Day for pre-treatment of waste prior to landfill

30th October - D-Day for pre-treatment of waste prior to landfill ...With Government (Pre-Treatment) regulations taking effect from 30th October ... just the first of a number of European "producer responsibility" directives. ...

www.30th-october.co.uk/ - 31k -

Friends of the Earth said it wanted to see more "reverse vending machines" - which allow consumers to recycle bottles and cans immediately. "Britain has been living in the dark ages in terms of recycling," said a spokesman. "There is this technology, such as reverse vending machines, which are used abroad, and we should be making more use of it. Friends of the Earth says it wants Government recycling targets raised from 20% to more than 90 per cent.

Avery Weigh-Tronix has signalled its intention to focus solely on its core industrial customer base, including the waste management industry, with the sale of its food retail weighing business, Avery Berkel.

'The decision to sell retail was not easy, but it is in the best interests of both the retail and industrial parts of the company' commented Avery Weigh-Tronix CEO Jerry Bowe. 'It allows Avery Weigh-Tronix to focus on manufacturing, selling and servicing weighing technology for our key industrial customers.

The news from Avery Weigh-Tronix comes as the company unveils several new products and solutions for the waste industry. These include the development of new on board weighing technology using digital load cells and new software solutions. More >>

There a call for more reverse vending machines, where people can drop off used bottles and cans for recycling while buying drinks More>>

Reverse Vending Corporation - in MRW - REVERSE VENDING TURNING AROUND THE TREND

'Reverse vending machines' The government has highlighted some existing schemes, which it says work well, including:Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon, Essex, which has set up "reverse vending machines" for plastic bottles and aluminium cans

BBC political reporter Rob Young said there was the "threat of legislation", although ministers say a change in the law at the moment would be "premature".

The UK has one of the lowest recycling rates in Europe. Millions of tonnes of rubbish go into litter bins every year and most of that goes to landfill sites. More >>

Eastgate Shopping Centre , has won the Countywide Business Award for Environmental Awareness 2007.

The Reverse Vending Machine was recognised as a key element in their achieving the award. >>> More

The Brewery February 2007 Design & Brand Identity

The Brewery is a Business, Brand and Design Consultancy that re-establishes the link between creative thinking and business results.
www.thebrewerydesign.com

"reVend and Spend" download Catalogue >>>>

Retail Technology is the leading monthly magazine serving Retail IT professionals in the UK and other European countries. It provides independent intelligence for large retailers, manufacturers and resellers looking to source the latest technology. Retail Technology also supplies a portfolio of online services, including an online retail technology supplier guide, news archive and a twice monthly email newscast service.

Website: www.retailtechnology.co.uk

Reverse Vending Corporation's Reverse Vending installation at Eastgate Shopping Centre The commitment to environmentally friendly shopping at the Eastgate Centre in Basildon received a major, national accolade recently when the Centre was declared Green Champion in the retail and wholesale sector of the National Green Apple Awards.

The installation of proven “reverse vending” recycling technology was the way forward in such an important public retail centre.

The opportunities go beyond retail. Stephen Hall and Steve Stothard have come up with an altogether different use for robotic vending: recycling.

The concept is simple: Hall and Stothard lease “reverse vending machines” to schools, offices and leisure centres. Visitors drop their used plastic bottles or cans into the machines, which automatically identify, sort and crush the material.

The machines dispense incentive tickets, tokens or smart card points for each used beverage container recycled and then transmit the recycling statistics to a central database.

“There are over 15,000 of our recycling machines across Europe,” says Hall. “We’re not tree huggers, we’re business people.

Avery IT announces the launch of their new website, in line with their recent rebranding and relaunch exercise. "This is an exciting new channel for us to reach our target market" said John Watson, Director of Avery IT.

"This website will answer every question anyone could ask about us and will act as a virtual salesperson for us." The website is at www.averyitsupport.com and was completed in record time by Web Media Works and the Avery Weigh-Tronix webmaster James Robertson.

"We are already getting people enquiring about us from our web presence on the existing Avery Weigh-Tronix site" said John "this new site can only help us serve our customer base better." Visit http://www.averyitsupport.com

Some of Eastgate's initiatives include the first-ever reverse vending machine in a UK shopping centre, in which plastic bottles and cans are collected for recycling rather than going to landfill sites.Dr Bellamy believes initiatives like those installed in the shopping centre embody his beliefs in how we can work together to save the planet. The veteran green campaigner said: "Every day we hear stories we are all going to be dead by 2050 because of carbon emissions, the forests being cut down and the fishing stocks being depleted, but we have the solutions in technology and our scientists, we just need more money invested in them. "What we don't hear about so much is the green renaissance that is going on and you here in Basildon are part of that." More >>

Bright. NL Als het aan de Reverse Vending Corporation ligt, mag Jeroen een ander baantje zoeken. Zij recyclen bij de bron. Helaas nog niet in Nederland. Ligt dat aan het feit dat wij geen statiegeld op blikjes heffen?

Distributeur de boissons écologiques - Innovant.fr Reverse Vending Corporation propose différents moyens de rémunérer ses clients. ... Corporation est présent dans de nombreux pays mais pas encore en France. ...
www.innovant.fr/index.php?2006/ 10/04/24-distributeur-de-boissons-ecologiques

For further information, please contact : Reverse Vending Corporation