Reverse vending machine

  A reverse vending machine is a device that accepts used (empty) beverage containers and returns money to the user (the reverse of the typical vending cycle). The machines are popular in places that have mandatory recycling laws or container deposit legislation.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

Guide to balance cleaning: 8 simple steps

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

In some places, bottlers paid funds into a centralized pool to be dispersed to people who recycled the containers. Any excess funds were to be used for general environmental cleanup.

In other places, such as Norway, the state mandated that a vendor pay for recycled bottles, but left the system in the hands of private industry.

The dominant vendor of reverse vending machines in Europe is Tomra of Norway