We are market leaders

Recycle and Reward Reverse Vending

2013 Zero Waste Scotland funded pilot

Zero Waste Scotland funded a number of ‘recycle and reward’ pilot projects to test the increase in recycling of single use drinks containers through offering incentives. More Information >

This followed a Scottish Government manifesto commitment to pilot such systems and support the development of a home-grown closed loop re-processing infrastructure in Scotland. More Information >

Our Zero Waste Scotland funded pilots at IKEA Edinburgh and IKEA Glasgow stores helped to prove the case for a Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland. More information >

Scotland's First Reverse Vending Machine

12th December 2008 Scotland’s first reverse vending recycling machine installed.

We are proud that we installed the very first Reverse Vending Machine in Scotland years before any competitor.

Working with Stagecoach Group and Aberdeenshire Council we launched Scotland’s first reverse vending recycling initiative, offering discounted bus travel in return for used drinks cans and plastic bottles. Original Press Release >

UK's First on-site Deposit Return Scheme

Thursday 19 April 2018

We are proud that we launched the first UK on-site Deposit Return Scheme.

This was the first publicly accessible recycling machine in the UK and coincides with the Government’s announcement to crack down on plastic pollution.

Lugano Kapembwa, Sustainability Manager, Canary Wharf Group said, “We are proud to be the first in the UK to launch the Deposit Return Scheme to give our shoppers the opportunity to recycle their single-use plastic and metal. From our research we know that visitors to the Estate want to do more for the environment. Original Press Release >

Nothern Ireland's First Reverse Vending Machine

28th January 2019

We are proud that we launched the first Reverse Vending Machine in Northern Ireland.

Richard Walker, Managing Director at Iceland, said: “The overwhelming consumer support we have received in response to our reverse vending machine trial clearly demonstrates consumer appetite for improved in-store recycling, and deposit return schemes.

“We have expanded our trial to Northern Ireland to ensure our trial is as robust as possible and is representative of customers from across all of the UK. Original Press Release

First Reverse Vending Machine installed in Wales

October 2012

We are proud that we launched the first Reverse Vending Machine in Wales.

WRAP Cymru funding enabled the Cardif and Vale College to install the very latest Reverse Vending Technologies to participate in “Recycle on the Go”.

Cardiff and Vale College had identified that the Restaurant areas (canteen) as ideal positions to install Reverse Vending Recycling Machines, to reward the students and staff for recycling to encourage recycling and reduce litter. More information >

First Reverse Vending installed in-store in the UK

Friday 18 May, 2018

We are proud that we launched the first Reverse Vending Machine in store in the UK.

Iceland was the first UK supermarket to install a reverse vending machine in store in support of the Government’s recently announced intention to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme in England.

The UK’s leading frozen food specialist continues to lead the way in reducing the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, and will be trialling the reverse vending machine in its Fulham, London, store initially for six months. Original Press Release

First Reverse Vending installed in-store in Scotland

6th June 2018

We are proud that we launched the first Reverse Vending Machine in store in Scotland.

Musselburgh's Iceland store became the first supermarket in Scotland to introduce a reverse vending machine in a bid to end plastic pollution. press article

These machines reward people for recycling by providing money or vouchers in return for empty containers.

Iceland’s reverse vending machine will accept Iceland’s empty plastic beverage bottles and repay customers with a 10p voucher for each recycled bottle to be used in store.

The Musselburgh installation follows Iceland’s industry-first trial in London the previous month More Details