Massive beverage return mechanism established in Rīga

In a significant stride towards environmental sustainability, a new reverse vending machine has been installed in Latvia, revolutionising the bottle deposit system. Miks Stūrītis, CEO of Deposit Packaging Operator Ltd, has stated that on average, 25 bottles and cans are being handed over per deposit at these machines.

The innovative system, developed by Swedbank, eliminates the need for printing paper receipts or visiting shops with them. Instead, the deposit refund is transferred directly to the user's bank account in the Baltics, making the process seamless and efficient.

The current system handles normal capacity reverse vending machines and can process all types of packaging, including glass. Jevgēņijs Ivanovs, Head of Corporate Banking at Swedbank, predicts that this will be a popular solution due to its convenience and environmental benefits.

To use the machine, packages must be empty, without liquid, and have the Latvian deposit mark on top. After processing, the machine provides a receipt within about 30 seconds. If a user wishes to transfer the funds to their account, they can scan the QR code on the dpays portal.

Individuals can log on to dpays.eu and register their profile to facilitate deposit refunds. The dpays solution is already being tested and is predicted to be popular, with the potential for an increase in large-volume drop-off machines in Latvia if demand arises.

The deposit system has been in operation in Latvia for two years, with around 1,000 reverse vending machines currently in operation. Notably, the machine at the "Dižtaromāts" location in Mežciems can handle around 1,000 deposit items in ten minutes.

This solution was tested earlier this summer at the Lampa festival, and preliminary results suggest that it will be well-received by the public. Interestingly, a study shows that 26% of people tend to hand in a few times a year, with these individuals often collecting larger quantities, particularly those living in private houses or larger apartments with basements.

However, the search results do not provide information about the name or identity of the company responsible for the development and operation of large-scale return machines in Latvia. Despite this, the introduction of this new reverse vending machine marks a significant step forward in promoting recycling and reducing waste in Latvia.