A UK Vending Machine Will Pay You to Recycle Plastic Bottles

The machine is being trialled for six months and has been launched on the heels of the country’s proposed bottle deposit scheme, which would require consumers to pay a deposit each time they purchase a grocery item in a plastic vessel. The legislation will aim to incentivise buyers to return bottles in order to retrieve their money.

The government turned to Norway’s recyclable plastic deposit system, called panteordning, for inspiration. The Nordic country has had reverse vending machines installed outside food shops since 1972. The devices provide shoppers with cash or vouchers in exchange for their plastic containers.

Iceland’s machine has already begun rewarding its clients for recycling. It is set up to scan barcodes so that only bottles bought from within the chain are accepted.

Managing director Richard Walker says: ‘We’re the first supermarket to take decisive action to bring the reverse vending machine into stores, following the announcement of the government’s support for a deposit return scheme in England. We’re doing it properly, through consultation with suppliers and by gaining understanding of how customers will act in response to the machine.’

Every year, 12 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans, with less than half of plastic bottles used in the UK recycled after use. Over 90% of plastic in Norway is recycled.

Michael Gove praised Iceland’s step towards incentivised recycling: ‘I applaud Iceland for leading the way with their trial scheme. It is absolutely vital we act now to curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go un-recycled. Support from businesses will be a vital part of ensuring we leave our environment in a better state than we found it.’