Innovative reverse vending machine debuts on the market

This reverse vending machine automatically returns funds to your account. All you need to do is provide three words or your mobile phone number. The innovative device was created through the cooperation of Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology, Czysta Polska Recyklomaty and payment operator Tpay.

The device has been designed to be as easy to use and user-friendly as possible. The users will decide in which form the deposit refund will be sent to them. From the classic solutions of a receipt or a photo with a QR code to an instant transfer to a bank account, which will be possible without specifying the account number.

How will this work?

– The customer will be able to obtain his individual password consisting of three words. The number of his or her account will be encoded in it,’ explains Tomasz Markowski, director of the Centre for Digital Transformation at Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology. – When returning a bottle or can, all you need to do is say this password and the deposit will automatically be credited to your account, he adds.

If someone does not want to use the password, there will be an option to enter their phone number, and then the money will go straight back into the account.

– When returning a bottle, you will not need to have your phone with you. This innovative approach not only increases user convenience, but also ensures a high level of security, which is always a priority for us when handling payments, says Paweł Działak, CEO and co-founder of Tpay.
For those who do not want to set themselves a password or enter their phone number, a printed receipt with a QR code will still remain. It will be redeemable in-store. For those who pay special attention to the environment or tend to lose their receipts, there will be an option to photograph the QR codes and show them in the shop.

Convenience

The idea behind the recyclomat was convenience. The machine can be placed not only in shops, but also in parks, squares and near stadiums, wherever people gather and consume drinks. It will also be easy to use for children who do not have payment cards,
and they can lose the receipt.

– Our devices are designed to be user-friendly, offering a simple and intuitive interface. This makes using them easy, fast and convenient, which will encourage more people to segregate waste,‘ explains Maciej Nowak, Director for Development at Czysta Polska Group.

The reverse vending machine is versatile and can be programmed according to the customer’s needs. It can operate differently in a shop belonging to a retail chain (e.g. print only receipts for use at the cash register), and differently in an office building or school.

Ecology

The device, which is designed to make it easier to care for the environment, has itself been made in a sustainable way. Its housing is made from recycled plastic.

The deposit system, which will come into force on 1 January 2025, will cover plastic bottles up to 3 litres, glass bottles up to 1.5 litres and metal cans up to 1 litre. The deposit for plastic and metal packaging will be PLN 0.5, for glass packaging it will be PLN 1. These will be given back to customers when the can or bottle is returned.

All shops with a floor area of more than 200 square metres will be obliged to accept used bottles and cans. Smaller ones may join the system, but do not have to.