Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia has begun rolling out reverse vending machines (RVMs) at its primary production facilities, starting with its Moorabbin site in Victoria.
An RVM is an automated device that collects empty beverage containers like plastic bottles, glass bottles, and aluminum cans for recycling and rewards the user, typically with a deposit refund, voucher, or other incentive.
The trial is being implemented in partnership with Return-It, the east zone network operator for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic). It aims to make container recycling more accessible to the public.
“Coca-Cola has been proudly made in Moorabbin for more than 65 years,” said Orlando Rodriguez, MD for Australia at CCEP.
“Now, with the installation of this reverse vending machine, our consumers can return their containers for recycling right where their favourite drinks are produced.”
Return-It CEO Marc Churchin said the collaboration emphasises the importance of industry partnerships in promoting recycling.
“Our purpose at Return-It is to make recycling worth it, that means it must be easy, rewarding, and accessible,” he said.
Beyond the Moorabbin site, CCEP plans to expand the rollout of RVMs to other production locations nationwide.
“The initiative reflects our long-standing support for Australia’s container deposit schemes and our commitment to investing in local recycling infrastructure,” Rodriguez added.
“We want to ensure beverage containers are kept out of the environment and landfill so that they can be captured, recycled, and reused in a closed loop.”
