The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Trial ‘vending machine’ scheme launches in Perth city centre
Retail giant Boots has launched a pilot recycling scheme at its Perth city centre store.
A new reverse vending machine has been installed at the High Street outlet, offering customers the chance to deposit empty plastic, metal and glass drinks containers in exchange for loyalty Advantage Card points.
The device, which can handle cans and bottles of up to 3 litres, is one of only two in the country.
The company’s transformation director Paul Dunne said: “We are pleased to be able to trial another way for customers to recycle their plastic, metal and glass drink containers.
“This is an opportunity for us to review the operational impact on installations of reverse vending machines in our stores, as well as all the practicalities of running a deposit return scheme on the high street.”
The project is separate to the Scottish Government’s recently announced deposit return scheme.
Jill Farrell, chief operating officer at Zero Waste Scotland, welcomed Boots’ trial.
“Scotland’s 20p deposit return scheme will be a game-changer for recycling in this country. Reverse vending machines will be one of the main ways that people will be able to return their empty bottles and cans and claim their 20p back,” she said.
She added: “Scotland’s scheme will increase recycling levels for drinks containers to 90% and cut harmful emissions by 160,000 tonnes every year. We hope this trial will give people in Perth the chance to familiarise themselves with the idea of returning their empty plastic and glass bottles and metal cans and to see just how easy it will be to do something good for the planet.”